The City of Dauphin has been receiving an increase in calls about fox activity within city limits.
This includes foxes denning under homes, decks, and sheds. While seeing a fox may be alarming, foxes are naturally shy. They are often not aggressive toward larger animals. However, they are opportunistic feeders and may pose a risk to small pets.
The City of Dauphin does not trap or remove foxes unless there is an immediate threat to public safety.
A tip: if you spot a fox roaming around, refrain from feeding it.
"Feeding the foxes in town does more harm than good," said Lisa Gaudet. "Foxes will lose their fear of people. They can become a nuisance, digging in gardens and trying to get into homes. Foxes are smart, resourceful, and don't really need us to feed them. We need to give them space, respect, and let them remain wild."
If you have a fox denning on your property, use light, sound, or scent deterrents to encourage them to relocate.
You can contact a licensed pest control professional and block access points to help prevent future denning.
"We are trying to reduce the number of foxes coming onto residential properties," ended Gaudet. "We do know that people are feeding them, thinking it's a kind gesture to do that. We really want to deter them as much as possible from coming into the city."
If you see a fox that appears sick, injured, or aggressive, call Manitoba Conservation at 622-2106.
You can also call the TIP line at 1-800-782-0076.
