The as-yet-unopened “landscraper,” a horizontal skyscraper stretching through central London, has found its rooftop garden turned into a playground for the city’s wiliest wildlife. Foxes have reportedly dug burrows into the landscaped soil and are freely roaming the building’s upper floors.

“It’s been going on for three years,” a source close to the construction said. “There’s one we keep seeing — she’s on the fifth floor one moment, then in the garden the next. No one’s managed to catch her.”

Though sightings have caused some disruption, Google insists the impact on construction is “minimal”. Staff have reportedly discovered fox droppings on the roof garden of the Thomas Heatherwick-designed building, which was crafted to host wildlife such as bees, bats, and butterflies, though not, presumably, urban foxes.

Mosh Latifi, pest control expert and co-director of EcoCare, suspects the foxes are thriving on a steady rodent diet. “We’re never more than three metres from a rat,” he told The Guardian. Another pest control professional noted that foxes often scavenge at building sites. “London is one big playground for them,” they said. “They’ll go absolutely anywhere — especially if there’s food.”

Leaks, litter, or well-meaning locals may be helping sustain the colony, known as a “skulk”. Google, for its part, seems unfazed. “Fox sightings are common on construction sites,” a spokesperson said. “Their appearances at King’s Cross have been brief and haven’t significantly disrupted work.”

According to Google’s own search results, the best way to deter foxes is to eliminate food sources, secure perimeters, and block burrowing spots.

This isn’t the first high-profile brush with urban wildlife in the capital. In 2011, a fox dubbed Romeo took up residence in the Shard during construction. He lived on discarded food until being safely removed and released. Even tech campuses abroad have been affected: Facebook’s Menlo Park HQ had a resident fox family, later immortalised with custom Messenger stickers.

Google’s King’s Cross project was announced in 2013 as its first wholly owned and designed building outside the U.S. The vast structure, still under construction, will eventually accommodate up to 7,000 staff. A 300-metre rooftop garden spans several floors and includes 250 trees, a running track, and leisure spaces — including a fitness zone and indoor pool.

The project, which began in 2018, is due to finish later this year. A 2022 topping-out ceremony was attended by Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Keir Starmer. “This project represents a real vote of confidence in London,” Khan said at the time.

As for the foxes, they appear to be making themselves comfortable, with or without an invite.