In Billy Briggs' article regarding fox hunting and the law, we were reminded that "as it stands, the legislation allows hunts to pursue foxes with dogs for pest control (sic), but the hounds must only be used to flush the creatures from cover to be shot by waiting gunmen". (Animal rights groups accuse Scottish police of pro-fox hunting bias, News, February 28).

Although it is commendable that the Sunday Herald spent a whole year investigating alleged illegal hunting and police bias, the truth is that foxes are not "pests", nor do they need to be controlled, as they do that very well themselves by controlling their own numbers.

Sandra Busell

Edinburgh