Red foxes have successfully adapted to urban environments across the UK and beyond, creating both opportunities for human-wildlife connection and welfare challenges.
Urban foxes face welfare threats including road collisions, mange, snare traps set illegally in gardens, and deliberate poisoning. Mange can be treated humanely using homeopathic or veterinary remedies distributed in food. Lethal control measures including gassing and trapping are largely ineffective at reducing urban fox populations because territories are rapidly reoccupied. Non-lethal management through deterrents and habitat modification is more welfare-friendly and equally effective.