Red foxes have successfully colonized urban environments globally. Managing human-fox interactions in cities requires approaches that protect fox welfare and reduce conflict.
Urban foxes face welfare challenges from mange, road traffic, illegal poisoning, and conflict with domestic animals. Mange causes severe suffering — skin crusting, hair loss, intense itching, and eventually death if untreated. Mange treatment programs, where householders provide medicated food, effectively treat mange without capture. Poisoning of urban foxes, though illegal in many countries, remains a welfare concern. Fox-proofing gardens and responsible food management reduces conflict while allowing foxes to coexist as part of urban biodiversity.