Urban fox populations have established successfully in British towns and cities, creating conflicts with some residents while providing wildlife experience for others, with welfare-positive management approaches available to address genuine conflicts.
Urban fox welfare considerations include both the welfare of foxes themselves and the acceptability of conflicts they create with residents. Mange causes severe welfare suffering including intense itching, skin crusting, hair loss, and death if untreated. Treating urban foxes with homeopathic-dosed medication in food is effective and represents a genuine welfare intervention. Conflicts with chickens, rabbits, and garden damage are better addressed through secure housing and deterrence than lethal control, which is ineffective at reducing populations and causes welfare harm to individual foxes.