Why aren’t all foxes shot in urban areas? | |||
Foxes are cautious by nature and usually keep their distance from humans, which makes hunting them down very complicated. In addition, hunting is clearly regulated by laws respecting the protection of animals. Both from an ethical point of view as for the need to control disease, interfering with a fox population makes little sense. This could trigger off migration, thus faci-litating the spread of disease. | |||
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Foxes are cautious animals and are in general still shy in towns. Moreover, they are extremely adaptable and learn fast – qualities which have stood them in good stead down the centuries in the face of constant persecution by humans. As a result, catching or shooting foxes is both difficult and time-consuming. Hunting foxes: a difficult task Hunting is restricted by law. During the close season from the beginning of March till mid June when the cubs are being raised, killing foxes is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, certain methods used to kill or trap foxes such as poisoned bait or death-traps and snares have now been banned. The present level of fox populations plus hunting regulations make it impossible to control or even eliminate a populaion of foxes in a large area like the city of Zurich. Another factor is their ability to react flexibly to efforts made to reduce their numbers. In large populations not all females (vixens) have cubs. If a lot of vixens were shot, the surviving females would produce more cubs to compensate for the killed animals. And vacancies left behind by shooting will soon be filled by newcomers. Foxes: for and against Apart from the feasibility of reducing fox populations or not, there is also the question of desirability because foxes have now become part of the urban fauna like blackbirds or hedgehogs, for instance, and feel quite at home in their urban environment (for more). Furthermore, many people like having these new residents around the place and would not support any massive campaign to reduce their number. Hunting: unanswered questions From the point of view of fighting disease, the question whether reduction of the fox populations is the right measure still remains unanswered. On the one hand, diseases can spread more rapidly within large populations while on the other, hunting encourages newcomers, which in turn results in more friction between foxes. Both can speed up the spread of disease. However, in regions shared with threatened species (e.g. rare ground-nesting birds) intensive hunting of foxes could be justified. Related Questions Why aren’t “urban” foxes returned to the forest? Are there too many foxes in urban areas? How can I chase away a cheeky fox? home | © |