Fox numbers climb 35%

The game and fauna service reported on Wednesday that the populations of foxes, hares and pheasants have all risen over the past year, each showing growth of at least 10 percent.

Specifically, fox numbers increased by 35 percent, pheasant numbers by 25 percent, and hare numbers by 10 percent compared with the previous year.

"This development sends a particularly encouraging message regarding the status of the two main game species, which had been on a downward trend over the past five and three years respectively," the service said.

The agency attributed the reproductive success to the higher rainfall since January 2026 and to delays in hay production.

Those same weather conditions, however, appear to have harmed the breeding of local wood pigeons because of their different nesting behaviour.

Consequently, the wood pigeon population fell by 22 percent, but the service stressed this is not a concern, noting the species has been on a steady upward trend over the last 20 years.

The service also warned that the growing fox population could threaten other species, effectively limiting their growth.

"By its very nature, the presence of the fox acts as a limiting factor for the populations of both game animals and other species that nest in the salt marshes, wetlands and natura areas," it said.

The figures come from the annual census conducted by the game and fauna service, which recorded hares and foxes together with stray dogs and cats along survey routes in the Paphos and Larnaca districts.

In the Paphos district, surveyors counted 70 hares, 42 foxes and 44 stray dogs, while in the Larnaca district they recorded 20 hares, 27 foxes and 129 cats.

"Our department will continue to systematically monitor these populations, assessing all factors affecting wildlife and taking measures where necessary, within the framework permitted by the relevant legislation," the game and fauna service concluded.