Do foxes attack humans? | |||
Foxes are by nature wary of humans. They are not aggressive and do not attack people. In rare cases juvenile foxes or half tamed foxes can be a nuisance. However, these too are easily frightened off without becoming aggressive. | |||
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Normally, foxes do not attack humans because they are not aggressive. On the whole, their shy behaviour is still evident in urban areas. They tend to avoid direct contact with people although they have grown used to the presence of humans. Inquisitive young foxes that have not learnt to be wary of humans may be less cautious.
Less shyness, sick behaviour? Not necessarily. During the rabies epidemic it was general knowledge that rabid foxes lose their natural shyness of humans and can become aggressive. But Switzerland is now free of rabies which is no longer a danger (for more). Do not feed or tame foxes! Foxes should stay wary of humans since tame foxes can cause problems (for more). It is important to respect foxes as wild animals and not let them get used to direct contact with us.
Fox trapped inside: What to do Even when trapped inside a house a fox will not attack you. Acting calmly will save both you and the imprisoned fox a great deal of trouble.
Nibbled feet More recently there have been a few instances where people sleeping out in the open have had their feet bitten by foxes. Presumably such cases can be attributed to sheer inquisitiveness rather than a serious attack. An incident was recorded in the city of Zurich where a fox showed absolutely no fear but snapped when approached. Most likely this particular fox had been fed by humans as a small cub, making it tame. Finally, game wardens had to destroy it. Nevertheless, such events seldom occur. Related questions Are there any foxes with rabies? Should I feed foxes? home | © |