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Rare ‘bad luck’ black fox spotted in UK back garden

By SOPHIE ROBERTS
2nd February 2016, 11:12 am
Updated: 6th April 2016, 12:35 pm

AN AMATEUR photographer managed to capture an extraordinary scene while
staying with his friend in London.

As Adam Lloyd, 48, peered into the garden in Hounslow, he spotted a black fox
sitting on the roof of a shed.

The unusual pigmentation is believed to be caused by a rare genetic defect
that stops foxes from adopting their usual colour.

Startled Adam fumbled to capture some pictures, after realising that his
camera had run out of battery.

Luckily, he quickly grabbed another camera and snapped a picture of the black
fox with a distinctive spot of white on the end of its tail.

At first glance the creature beast baring its sharp teeth looks like a grizzly black bear. But this is the terrifying moment a rare black fox and a red fox launched into a vicious fight - in a suburban west London garden. Amateur photographer Adam Lloyd, 48, took the dramatic photos showing the pair snarling in combat as they fought over a vixen. Black foxes are incredibly rare ¿ only a handful of them are said to exist in the UK and legend says they bring bad luck. But Mr Lloyd could hardly believe his good fortune when he spotted the distinctive jet-black creature with its bushy white-tipped tail from a bathroom window. He said: ¿Until now I never knew black foxes existed. So I feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed not only a black fox but such a battle ¿ and such drama in a busy London suburb. ¿To open bathroom blinds and see a black fox calmly sat right in front of me on a shed roof next to him was a vixen was extraordinary.¿ Quickly reaching for a camera he began taking photos. But within minutes the scene of serenity on a frosty morning had turned to one of menace as another fox ¿ a red male with a less bushy coat¿ began howling in the garden next door. Said Mr Lloyd: ¿The black fox and the vixen looked over the wall to see what the noise was. I had no idea what was making the commotion until I saw the male red fox come into view. ¿The vixen who had been with the black fox stepped aside out of danger. It as then the red male fox arched his back and with his ears back and tail down, let out a long snarl. ¿The male red fox had a patchy fur coat and didn¿t look as well as the black fox and the vixen. I can only think he went into battle because he wanted to mate with the vixen or possibly the pair had strayed onto his territory.¿
©adamlloyd/featureworld
2

A couple of minutes later, Adam noticed there was also a vixen present in the
garden.

Shockingly, feelings of awe soon turned to fear as Adam heard the howl of a
male fox from a neighbouring house.

Adam recalls: “The black fox and the vixen looked over the wall to see
what the noise was.”

Eventually, the large red fox sidled into the garden and the vixen fled the
scene.

Adam said: “It was then the red male fox arched his back and with his ears
back and tail down, let out a long snarl.”

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At first glance the creature beast baring its sharp teeth looks like a grizzly black bear. But this is the terrifying moment a rare black fox and a red fox launched into a vicious fight - in a suburban west London garden. Amateur photographer Adam Lloyd, 48, took the dramatic photos showing the pair snarling in combat as they fought over a vixen. Black foxes are incredibly rare ¿ only a handful of them are said to exist in the UK and legend says they bring bad luck. But Mr Lloyd could hardly believe his good fortune when he spotted the distinctive jet-black creature with its bushy white-tipped tail from a bathroom window. He said: ¿Until now I never knew black foxes existed. So I feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed not only a black fox but such a battle ¿ and such drama in a busy London suburb. ¿To open bathroom blinds and see a black fox calmly sat right in front of me on a shed roof next to him was a vixen was extraordinary.¿ Quickly reaching for a camera he began taking photos. But within minutes the scene of serenity on a frosty morning had turned to one of menace as another fox ¿ a red male with a less bushy coat¿ began howling in the garden next door. Said Mr Lloyd: ¿The black fox and the vixen looked over the wall to see what the noise was. I had no idea what was making the commotion until I saw the male red fox come into view. ¿The vixen who had been with the black fox stepped aside out of danger. It as then the red male fox arched his back and with his ears back and tail down, let out a long snarl. ¿The male red fox had a patchy fur coat and didn¿t look as well as the black fox and the vixen. I can only think he went into battle because he wanted to mate with the vixen or possibly the pair had strayed onto his territory.¿
©adamlloyd/featureworld
2

Instead of backing down from the confrontation, the black fox bared its teeth
and stood up on its hind legs intimidatingly.

The rare creature managed to assert its dominance, quickly turning and running
into another garden.

Adam believes the fight was either a territorial battle or because both males
wanted to mate with the vixen.

Although legend has it that the black fox is an omen of bad luck, or the devil
reincarnated, Adam feels privileged to have seen one up close.

He said: “Until now I never knew black foxes existed, so I feel incredibly
privileged to have witnessed not only a black fox but such a battle – and
such drama in a busy London suburb.”