The decree to regulate the fox population in Seine-Maritime is suspended (Illustration) -

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On Friday, the administrative court of Rouen, seized of two summary proceedings, suspended the order of the prefect of Seine-Maritime which authorized the slaughter of 1,430 foxes by 2021.

"The execution of the decree of July 20, 2020 by which the prefect of Seine-Maritime authorized the regulation of the fox by the lieutenants of the louveterie of Seine-Maritime from July to December 2020, is suspended", specifies the judge summary proceedings in his order.

"A stable fox population between 2016 and 2018"

Several associations, including the LPO (League for the protection of birds), had filed a request in August asking the judge to suspend this decree.

They maintained that this decree contained "no reason likely to justify the organization of administrative battles".

“The prefect argues that the fox population increased in 2019 and during the first half of 2020. However, a study by the company NaturAgora Développement, produced by the prefect, shows that the average density of fox (…) was stable ”in Seine-Maritime between 2016 and 2018, recalls the order of the summary judge.

This density index "has certainly increased in 2019 compared to the previous year, from 0.59 to 0.67 per square kilometer, but it remains significantly lower than the average density on the national territory", he underlines .

A canceled decree in the Eure

"If the prefect avails himself of the consequences of the interruption of the regulation during the period of confinement, he does not give any precise figures on the increase in the population of foxes which could result from it", underlines the judge.

The judge also rejected another request for suspension of the One Voice nature conservation association.

Ruling on another request, Friday, the public rapporteur of the Administrative Court of Rouen also requested the annulment of a prefectural decree of 2019 authorizing the slaughter of foxes in the Eure.

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