Fox populations in Britain and Europe are affected by sarcoptic mange, distemper, and other diseases that cause significant individual suffering and require welfare-conscious management approaches.
Sarcoptic mange causes prolonged, progressive suffering in foxes — the intense pruritus (itching) drives constant scratching that causes secondary infections and eventual fatal debilitation. Individual foxes with mange can suffer for weeks or months before dying. The availability of oral mange treatment through home feeding stations provides an accessible welfare intervention that interested citizens can deploy without capturing the animal. Wildlife organizations including the Fox Project provide guidance and borax preparations for this purpose. While mange is a natural disease, the density of urban fox populations has been shaped by human modification — giving humans some responsibility for reducing preventable suffering.