Protect the Wild calls on LBC Radio to apologise after presenter mocks trapped fox live on air
Wildlife organisation Protect the Wild has condemned LBC Radio host Ian Payne for mocking a trapped fox live on air, calling his comments “a disturbing example of media hostility towards wildlife.”
During Payne’s show on 14 October, he told listeners about a fox trapped in his underground car park. Rather than showing concern, Payne repeatedly referred to the animal as “vermin,” joked about “deporting” foxes, and dismissed listeners who urged him to contact the RSPCA. He speculated that because foxes “don’t understand key fobs,” the animal was likely to “waste away down there.”
Protect the Wild says Payne’s comments normalise cruelty and reinforce the idea that wild animals are disposable nuisances rather than sentient beings deserving of empathy.
Rob Pownall, founder of Protect the Wild, said: “What happened on LBC wasn’t just thoughtless — it was dangerous. Words shape attitudes, and when national broadcasters mock a trapped animal and call it ‘vermin,’ they legitimise cruelty. Foxes are intelligent, social animals who belong in our towns and countryside as much as we do. LBC should use its platform to educate, not dehumanise.”
The organisation has launched a petition calling on LBC, Ian Payne, and parent company Global Media to:
- Confirm that the trapped fox was safely rescued and released.
- Acknowledge publicly that calling wildlife “vermin” is unacceptable.
- Commit to inviting wildlife experts to discuss fox behaviour and urban coexistence.
- Host a dedicated segment on LBC promoting compassion and accurate information about Britain’s wildlife.
Protect the Wild argues that Payne’s comments reflect a wider trend in UK media that demonises foxes with headlines referring to them as “pests,” “menaces,” or “disease carriers.” Such framing, the group warns, fuels persecution and desensitises the public to suffering — from hunting and snaring to poisoning and habitat loss.
“This isn’t just about one fox in one car park,” Pownall added. “It’s about how easily indifference and mockery toward animals become normalised. The media has immense power to shape how society views wildlife — it must use that responsibility wisely.”
Protect the Wild is urging members of the public to sign and share the petition at protectthewild.org.uk to hold broadcasters accountable for the way they represent animals.
