Canid Conflict: Keeping wildlife wild
The question always arises, why the red fox? Why canids? Personally, for me, I believe the best way to capture an effective body of work is to pursue issues, or topics that you are passionate about, that you feel are vital. The red fox isn't a threatened species, no, in fact they are thriving across the globe. However, like most canids, they are needlessly prosecuted, and given a bad reputation from years of misinformation, myths, and hearsay. As long a humans trap, torture, run them down on snowmobiles, mistreat, poison, interfere, and continue to treat canids without respect, I will continue to be a voice for these animals.
I've always been compelled by species that can thrive in urban settings. It is quite amazing to witness animals flourishing in locations in which most people would deem inhabitable for wildlife due to heavy traffic, housing/buildings, lack of wooded areas, etc. But with humans, comes garbage, with garbage comes small rodents; favourite prey for predators like the red fox. Red foxes are very opportunistic, if garbage is left unattended or pet food is left out in the yard, it becomes an easy meal. If you're an animal that needs to find food daily in order to survive, you take what you can get, the easier the better. Urban areas tend to be an all you can eat buffet, rodents, birds, handouts, whatever is left laying around. This is where living among humans creates some conflict. Not everyone loves foxes, or animals for that matter, and those who do, sometimes give into the temptation to feed them. Some people refuse to keep pets inside, and leave bowls of food out. This will attract much more than just foxes to their yards, but they do it anyway, getting angered when someone other than their pet cleans out the bowl. Other people admire these wild visitors, and will purposely feed them hoping that they will return. Yet feeding puts these animals in danger by enticing them to cross heavy traffic, or travel across a neighbour's yard that isn't fond of these animals, which can lead to trapping and euthanasia if labeled a nuisance.
One year, Amy Shutt and I set off to document these human-animal relationships in urban locations. After hearing about multiple fox kits nearly getting hit by vehicles due to people feeding them from their vehicles, we decided to check out the situation. We hope to bring light, promote coexistence, and to curb some of the problems that occur in these areas. We co-wrote an article drawing attention to some of these concerns for The Canid Project to educate the public of proper behaviour around these animals. Our write up, below:
I've always been compelled by species that can thrive in urban settings. It is quite amazing to witness animals flourishing in locations in which most people would deem inhabitable for wildlife due to heavy traffic, housing/buildings, lack of wooded areas, etc. But with humans, comes garbage, with garbage comes small rodents; favourite prey for predators like the red fox. Red foxes are very opportunistic, if garbage is left unattended or pet food is left out in the yard, it becomes an easy meal. If you're an animal that needs to find food daily in order to survive, you take what you can get, the easier the better. Urban areas tend to be an all you can eat buffet, rodents, birds, handouts, whatever is left laying around. This is where living among humans creates some conflict. Not everyone loves foxes, or animals for that matter, and those who do, sometimes give into the temptation to feed them. Some people refuse to keep pets inside, and leave bowls of food out. This will attract much more than just foxes to their yards, but they do it anyway, getting angered when someone other than their pet cleans out the bowl. Other people admire these wild visitors, and will purposely feed them hoping that they will return. Yet feeding puts these animals in danger by enticing them to cross heavy traffic, or travel across a neighbour's yard that isn't fond of these animals, which can lead to trapping and euthanasia if labeled a nuisance.
One year, Amy Shutt and I set off to document these human-animal relationships in urban locations. After hearing about multiple fox kits nearly getting hit by vehicles due to people feeding them from their vehicles, we decided to check out the situation. We hope to bring light, promote coexistence, and to curb some of the problems that occur in these areas. We co-wrote an article drawing attention to some of these concerns for The Canid Project to educate the public of proper behaviour around these animals. Our write up, below: