Preserving canid history for generations to come.

Hunted to Extinction

Forgotten Canids

Uncover our past canid diversity

The British Isles were once home to several canid species including at least three suspected subspecies of fox and the grey wolf. The golden jackal once bounded across our land also, which is recorded in historical texts documenting their importation for the purpose of releasing them for hunting.

While it is known the grey wolf and these introduced species were hunted to extinction, it is not commonly known that the red fox also faced extinction, but their populations were saved from this fate with the importation of foxes from Europe.

The Society aims to hunt down evidence that may suggest these extinct fox genetics still exist in lineages today and to establish at what extent.

A Modern Conundrum

Current Canids

Solving the mystery of foreign foxes

Recent research has established that the North American red fox is a divergent form of the European red fox, separated by 400,000 years of isolation. Historical texts document their introduction to the British Isles from at least the nineteenth century for the purposes of repopulation and then again in the twentieth century for the purposes of farming fur.

This new knowledge is important for understanding why there may be an increase of melanism, unusual coat colours and even 'self-domestication' in red foxes in the British Isles today.

The Society aims to identify evidence that suggests these novel genetics may exist in fox populations today and to establish at what extent.