Urban Wildlife Welfare: Foxes, Raccoons, and Coexistence

Urban wildlife including foxes, raccoons, and coyotes face welfare challenges from human-wildlife conflict, disease, and often inadequate coexistence practices in cities.

Key Facts

Urban fox populations have expanded across European and North American cities
Sarcoptic mange is a major cause of suffering in urban fox populations
Mange treatment programs using bait-delivered ivermectin have reduced suffering in affected populations
Wildlife translocation - moving problem animals - rarely solves conflicts and often harms the animals
Securing food waste and removing attractants is the most effective long-term coexistence strategy
Urban wildlife corridors and green spaces support diverse wildlife populations with fewer conflicts

Welfare Considerations

Urban wildlife welfare is an emerging field that considers the wellbeing of wild animals living in human-dominated environments. Urban foxes, coyotes, and raccoons face unique pressures including road mortality, disease, and human-wildlife conflict. Mange in urban fox populations can cause severe suffering and is treatable through community-based programs. Coexistence is better achieved through habitat management and food source reduction than through lethal control, which typically creates vacuums filled by new animals.

What You Can Do

Secure household waste in wildlife-proof containers to reduce human-wildlife conflict
Contact local wildlife rehabilitators if you encounter a fox or other urban wildlife with mange
Support local urban wildlife coexistence programs and corridors
Oppose lethal control of urban wildlife where non-lethal alternatives are available