Foxes moving into cities in search of food

KOCHI: Foxes have increasingly been spotted in major cities and densely populated areas of Kerala, including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur. In recent days, forest department rescue teams have captured foxes from urban areas, including Kochi.

The fox, a member of the dog family, is naturally a wild animal. Traditionally, they stayed hidden in bushes in rural areas and hunted chickens and ducks at night. Occasionally, they also preyed on goats. However, with forests and shrubs in villages disappearing and being replaced by houses, and with fewer poultry farms, foxes have started entering cities at night in search of meat waste and rodents found in garbage dumps. They generally do not attack humans.

The presence of foxes is relatively low in colder regions like Idukki, Wayanad, and in the marshy areas of Alappuzha.

The forest department usually captures wild animals that enter human settlements and releases them back into the forests. However, foxes often return to populated areas even after being released.

Rabies concern
With foxes entering cities, the threat of rabies remains even if stray dogs are controlled. Foxes are considered a major carrier of rabies. Stray dogs often attack foxes when they encounter them, and signs of rabies have been found in foxes killed in Kerala.

Population estimate
A study conducted by Aranyakam Nature Foundation in Ernakulam estimates that there are around 20,000 to 30,000 foxes in urban and semi-urban areas across the state.