Golf Club slammed after admitting ‘unauthorised’ fox shootings on their course

Residents have slammed the decision to cull foxes

Angry residents slammed Enfield Golf Club for their 'horrific', 'inhumane' and 'cruel' actions after learning that a fox cull took place across the 38-hectare course on Wednesday night.

Gunshots were heard by multiple people living near the course, which is located one mile west of Enfield town centre.

After contacting police, one resident was told that the authorities had been ‘legally informed’ about the shooting and that it could last until 2am on Thursday morning.

The golf club which describes itself as 'the friendliest golf course in North London' on Instagram, has issued an apology but claims that 'internal management' brought in 'an external group to conduct an unauthorised culling’ on its 18-hole course, without approval from the club’s committee.

The majority of fox cubs are born in early spring and are dependent on the vixens to provide milk for the first six weeks.

A cull of adult foxes in March would mean that any surviving cubs in the family will die of starvation within days.

Foxes are not protected in England for conservation purposes and although fox hunting is banned, it is legal to shoot or trap them 'humanely' under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

A London and Hertfordshire based animal welfare service called Moonstone Rescue, has accused Enfield Golf Club of ignoring multiple offers to help any stranded fox cubs left remaining on the course following Wednesday’s cull.

One of the rescue's founders, Matt Stone said: "We were made aware of this very early on Thursday morning. Two offers to assist the fox cubs, one on Thursday and another on Friday, were made but have been ignored by the golf club.

"Sadly, the results of delayed help will mean further deaths."

A local resident who heard the gunshots claimed she received abuse from the club's management when she contacted them about the incident.

The Labour MP for Enfield North, Feryal Clark told the Metro: "I am deeply disturbed and appalled by the idea of fox culling on a golf course in my constituency.

"It is not only an awful act but, frankly, incredibly cruel. Foxes are a protected species in the UK, and it is unacceptable for anyone to think that killing them on our doorstep is in any way justifiable.

"Golf clubs cannot and should not be involved in culling foxes. We must ensure that our wildlife is protected and I will be following this up with the golf club."

In a statement, Enfield Golf Club described its decision to cull foxes on the course as ‘incredibly poor’.

"Enfield Golf Club unreservedly apologises to Enfield residents following a recent incident on the course concerning foxes,’ the statement read.

"We can assure the community that this was an incredibly poor decision by internal management to allow an external group to conduct an unauthorised culling. This was not sanctioned by the Club Committee.

"The Club and its members are extremely disappointed that this happened and can guarantee it will never happen again.

"We are a club that supports the local community and provides an excellent place for all, we are saddened by these events and regret any distress this has caused in our local community."

The club allowed animal rescue teams to search the course on Saturday but no cubs were found.

Some dens had been signposted with white spray paint which volunteers discovered after their arrival at the course.

Stone said: "All of the dens that have been checked are empty, or at least to what we can find, are empty, which would suggest that not only adults were killed, cubs were killed.

"What we can find is there is no bodies in these dens. If there’s no bodies in these dens, something has removed them. You can’t tell me all the corpses that were shot would be scattered about.

"The fact is they’ve admitted to shooting foxes and there are no bodies there.

"On some of the dens there was clear signs of disturbance and on some of the footpaths leading to the dens there was clear signs that people had been walking there, which would strongly suggest someone has interfered with the dens."

The golf club has taken down its Facebook page and switched its Instagram account to private in response to the backlash.