Feeding Wild Foxes
Since I first started this page, one of the issues I've been asked about
most frequently is that of feeding wild foxes. As humans expand their
living areas and foxes expand their range as well, contact is inevitable.
Most of the time, foxes go out of their way to avoid humans, but they
are discovering that humans are a good source of food. Resourceful and
adaptable as foxes are, they will take advantage of this when they can.
The best thing you can do for wild animals is leave them alone, unless they're
injured. There are several concerns with feeding wild animals:
- The most serious problem is that the animals may become habituated to
people. As they lose their fear of people, they will become bolder in approaching people
and may put themselves in hazardous situations they would normally avoid. Not
all people are well-disposed towards wildlife, remember. Those who aren't actively
hostile may be afraid of an over-friendly animal, especially a raccoon or a fox, notorious
rabies carriers (although raccoons and domestic dogs are more likely to be carrying
rabies than foxes are).
- Another concern is that the animals, if fed regularly, will come to depend on humans
for their food. They won't starve if you stop feeding them, but they will be hungry and
unafraid of people, and could get very aggressive in approaching other people.
- There is always the fact that these are wild animals. They may eat tamely out of your
hand for weeks on end, and one day they may be startled by something and bite you. If
you are bitten by a wild fox, you should report the injury to a hospital, which will notify the
state department of health. You will probably have to get a series of rabies shots, which
are expensive and painful (though they are given in the arm and not the stomach). There is
even a chance that someone will come out to try to find the fox that bit you, in which case
it will have to be killed for tests.
Having said all that, I am aware that I can't stop anyone from feeding foxes. They are charming
creatures, and the feeling that we are helping them by giving them food is very strong (I have
heard from one person that foxes seem to bow to him after he gives them food). Therefore, if you
must feed foxes, please be aware of the above points. Here are a few suggestions, in addition:
- Feed them from a distance. Either leave food out for them or throw it from a porch.
- Don't feed them regularly. Chances are they won't come around regularly anyway, but
it's best if they don't get used to having food in the same place all the time.
- Make sure you feed them the right foods. In general, the best things to feed them are
things they could find in nature, for example:
- Raw meat (cooked is okay)
- Fresh fruit or berries
- Vegetables
- Eggs
- Earthworms (foxes eat earthworms and other insects, sometimes as a large part of their diet)
Things you should NOT feed them are:
- Chocolate: this tasty treat for humans is poisonous to canids. They can't digest
it. It can make them very sick and even kill them (though if you have been feeding chocolate to foxes,
don't feel guilty. I've heard stories of dogs and foxes that could eat chocolate quite happily. But you
can't tell until you feed it to them.).
- Highly processed foods like candy, potato chips, and other snacks
- Dry pet food
If foxes frequent your land, you should enjoy their presence and disturb them as little as possible.
If you do choose to leave food for them, I hope you'll keep these things in your mind when you
do, so your choice is an informed one.