Red foxes have successfully colonized urban environments globally, but their welfare is affected by vehicle strikes, pest control, and disease in ways that differ substantially from their rural counterparts.
Urban foxes occupy a welfare gray zone — they are wild animals choosing to live among humans, yet they experience suffering from human-caused hazards at higher rates than their rural relatives. Mange is particularly concerning as untreated infected foxes can survive for months in increasing discomfort before death. Vehicle strikes cause traumatic injury, with some animals surviving in a wounded state for extended periods. Humane urban fox management focuses on coexistence strategies, mange treatment programs, and reducing vehicle strike risk through road design rather than lethal control.