Urban fox management raises ethical questions about appropriate responses to human-wildlife conflict in cities where culling is ineffective and lethal control is questioned.
Urban fox welfare is affected by road traffic, mange, and conflict with humans including illegal poisoning and shooting. Shooting in urban areas carries risk of wounded animals that cannot be found and treated. Trapping and translocation is cruel without rehabilitation into appropriate habitat. Accepting coexistence and using non-lethal management of specific problem behaviours is both more effective and causes less welfare harm than lethal control.