Urban foxes are a wildlife success story in many cities but face specific welfare challenges and often attract calls for lethal control that is largely ineffective.
Urban foxes with mange suffer progressive loss of fur, intense itching from mite infestation, and secondary infection over weeks or months before dying. Mange treatment with homeopathic mange medicine dropped in food by concerned residents has proved effective and is supported by wildlife organizations. Traffic kills a significant proportion of urban foxes annually. Calls for lethal control typically follow incidents of foxes entering homes or interacting with children, but fox deterrence through removal of food sources is both more effective and more welfare-friendly.