Urban foxes in UK cities are a familiar part of urban wildlife but face significant welfare challenges from mange, road collisions, and human conflict.
Urban foxes suffering from sarcoptic mange experience progressively intense itching, hair loss, secondary skin infections, and eventual death if untreated. This is an extremely common and debilitating condition. Road accidents cause traumatic injuries with survivors needing rehabilitation. Deliberate persecution including poisoning occurs despite legal protection. Urban foxes are often blamed for damage to gardens and must navigate a landscape that includes both tolerance and active hostility.