Staff at a parcel firm in north London were outraged when managers called in a pest control team to kill foxes after faeces were found in the depot and in a delivery van.
They said the culling of at least three foxes at the UPS depot in Kentish Town last week was “cruel and needless”.
A pest control company was hired to trap and shoot foxes after fox faeces were found in the yard and in a van after a door was left open.
It is not illegal to cull foxes but it must be done humanely. Anyone causing “unnecessary suffering” to a trapped or snared fox can be jailed and fined. The animal has to be killed while caught in the snare.
According to the Unite union, bait was used to lure foxes into traps in the UPS yard, in Regis Road. At least three were killed before a staff outcry brought the cull to a halt.
One member of staff was suspended after intervening to prevent more foxes being killed and challenging management about why it had been allowed. The worker is now being represented by the union.
Unite sources said that on-site security and other staff were not informed that a pest controller would have access to the site with a licensed firearm.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at UPS are understandably aghast that the company’s response to foxes coming onto the depot grounds was to hire someone to trap and kill them.
“It is also atrocious that UPS has suspended one of their workers for intervening to stop the foxes being killed and challenging management about this completely unacceptable course of action.
“Our member has the full force of the union behind them and Unite will not stop until UPS makes this right.”
Unite national officer Matt Draper said: “Our UPS members are appalled at the cruel and needless capturing and shooting of wild animals that had done no real harm and caused no major inconvenience.
“Foxes are a fact of life in every urban area. Simple and humane precautions can be taken if they are causing a nuisance - this is what should have happened at UPS’ Kentish Town depot.
“Unite is demanding guarantees from UPS that policies will be put in place to ensure this never happens again.”
It is estimated that 400,000 foxes die each year in Britain on roads, by being shot or through natural causes.
UPS has been approached for comment.
