A BARBARIC and illegal activity could be taking place in your area at this time of year when criminals with dogs terrorise and kill young wild animals for fun.

In late summer, families of foxes complete the rearing of the cubs. This is the time when young hounds, together with more experienced companions, are taken out early in the morning or evening by hunters to learn the art of hunting foxes as a pack.

This unnatural activity has to be taught because the fox, a member of the same family as domestic dogs, is not a natural prey animal and dogs do not normally hunt other dogs to death.

An area where a fox family is known to live, often a small wood, is surrounded by people who are either on foot, horseback or wheeled vehicles.

Hounds are sent in to scent the foxes out. As the foxes try to flee the people make a loud noise and drive the foxes back to the hounds. This is called holding up. The growing cubs are no match for the hounds and make easy meat.

Those that escape to ground are dug out and killed and sometimes several cubs are discovered in one earth so whole families can be wiped out.

Cubs that survive have learnt the fear necessary to make for a good hunt later in the season. The young hounds have learnt the taste of fox blood. Foxes are born between February and April.

Cub hunting can start as early as July and continues until October.

If you see activity that resembles the descriptions above, please report it to the police at once (ask for an incident number) and also to the League Against Cruel Sports on 0845 330 8486.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED