Do foxes spread disease?
• foxes in Britain are very unlikely to spread disease to humans or pets • occasionally they are affected by mange – a condition that causes loss of fur and skin lesions, it is potentially transmissible to dogs but there is very little evidence of this actually happening and it is easily treated • as predators and scavengers, foxes are frequently exposed to infestations of parasitic gut worms including trichinella and toxocara, both of which can affect people. However, there is no evidence of foxes passing these diseases to pets or humans • a major fear people have concerns rabies, which is potentially fatal to man and animals. However, Britain has been completely free of rabies for many years and it is declining elsewhere in Western Europe How to deter urban foxes • firstly, make sure it really is a fox problem that is bothering you. Urban foxes are often blamed for problems caused by other animals (e.g. dogs overturning dustbins, cats and squirrels ripping open refuse bags) • if you
