BBC Radio 4 used to ‘scare off foxes’

A farmer has claimed Radio 4 is ‘so boring’ that foxes won’t go near it when it’s playing.

The station’s now being used by conservationists in Dorset to scare off the animals and prevent them from attacking swans.

Swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery were being targeted by foxes – until radios playing Radio 4 at full volume were put close to the water’s edge.

Dave Wheeler from the Swannery said the foxes hear voices and flee because they think they’re real people. The idea came about after a farmer suggested Radio 4. “In his words – Radio 4 is so boring that foxes won’t go near it,” says Dave. “He said he found out by accident. He left his radio on and he didn’t lose a chicken that night.”

He added: “The good thing about Radio 4 is that it talks and it continues talking all night long, partly as the World Service. A lot of other stations might change to music or stop altogether. We’ve never tried other stations because Radio 4 works, and if it works, why fix it?”