But Basil Brush wasn't a real fox - dirty, rancid and infested with fleas, lice and  (possibly) rabies.

Basil was just an artificial, hygenic glove-puppet.   Who bore no resemblance to Nature.

So, I can't see why he is cited here.  Except that it might show the naive Greenie view of Nature - ooh look, aren't foxes so adorable and cuddly?