A village on the Beijing outskirts is overrun with hundreds of foxes that are sneaking into homes and killing livestock - and they're continuing to outfox locals.

So far around 300 foxes and raccoon dogs have been rounded up in the northern district of Huairou, which local forestry officials suggest were let loose intentionally as "mercy releases."

Residents of Tanghekou village complain the sly foxes are entering homes and snatching fowl from yards. Locals estimate the foxes were released near the village on March 27.

Animal control officers captured 80 of the released animals on Saturday, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Sunday.

However, a number were found dead, apparently starved to death in the wild.

Those captured alive will be sent to a wildlife rescue center in Shunyi district.

Officials said the animals were most likely freed during mercy releases - a practice of Buddhist origins that while well-intended has been criticized for their resulting harm to local ecosystems and disregard for the animals' survival.

"People should obey the rules when freeing animals," one officer said. "otherwise it's not good for the released animals."

Mercy releases have also brought in big business for fox breeders and other animal ranchers in recent years, the paper reported.

Police are looking for those behind the release.

Beijing Youth Daily