You may think you're pulling the hero card.
Fox sightings in Dauphin and the area are frequent, and the City of Dauphin Animal Services understands you may think it's a kind gesture to feed them, but it isn't.
"Feeding the foxes in town does more harm than good," said Lisa Gaudet. "If you feed them, they lose their fear of people. They can become a nuisance, digging in gardens and trying to enter homes. Drawing them into populated areas means that they're more likely to be hit by a vehicle. It's not good for us and it's not good for them."
If you feed a fox, they become dependent and lose their ability to hunt and scavenge naturally. It also increases the risk of disease with parasites or illnesses that are brought closer to people and pets.
Gaudet urges the public not to feed foxes; instead, let them remain wild.
"Foxes are smart. They're resourceful, and they don't need us to feed them. We need to give them space and respect," ended Gaudet. "We are trying to reduce the number of foxes coming onto residential properties. We know people are feeding them. We really want to deter them as much as possible from coming into the city."
So the next time you think of feeding a fox, think again and refrain from doing so.
