How urban foxes live and thrive in cities, the welfare challenges they face, and evidence-based guidance for human-fox coexistence.
Urban foxes experience welfare challenges unique to the city environment. Road mortality is the leading cause of death in urban fox populations, with young animals particularly vulnerable in autumn as family groups disperse. Sarcoptic mange causes intense itching and progressive debilitation that without treatment is fatal over months. Social media-driven feeding creates nutritional problems and disease transmission at gathering points. Despite these challenges, urban foxes display remarkable behavioral adaptation and appear to thrive in human-modified environments with rich food resources.