Latest news with #fox
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Late night encounter in suburban car park highlights issue that 'should concern everyone'
A late-night encounter in a suburban car park with an invasive predator has exposed a growing problem, which one Aussie warns should be a concern to "everyone". Western Sydney resident Gabriel was taking a stroll after dark when he came across an incredibly brazen fox. While the sighting itself is a common occurrence in urban spaces, what surprised the wildlife enthusiast was just how tame the invasive predator appeared to be. "I went for a walk, and when I was in the car park of Valentine Park, I saw this fox," Gabriel told Yahoo News of the encounter in Glenwood earlier this week. "I thought it would have seen me and run away, but it let me get really close, and even came sniffing for food. It was really tame, I believe, because it's in a suburb, it's become accustomed to humans." Prolific fox populations affect major cities across the country, with urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth hosting some of the highest populations in the country due to their availability of food, water and shelter. There are an estimated 1.7 million foxes in Australia, according to the Australian National University. "Foxes are one of the worst invasive species that we have here for many reasons," said Gabriel. "They adapt very well to almost everywhere, eat most food, they're smart and cunning, and they've made their home in the Sydney suburbs. "It should be a concern to everyone," he said. Reason foxes are a big problem in Australia Reacting to the footage, fox population management specialist Gillian Basnett told Yahoo that it's likely this one has been "fed by people before". "It is definitely not a good idea to feed foxes, both because they are a declared pest and have significant impacts on wildlife and pets and cause a nuisance, but also because if they become used to being fed and less scared of people, the risk of attack increases," she said. "It might be that they are more visible at the moment because they are searching out mates and den sites at this time of year," she explained. Growing populations of foxes have a major impact on wildlife, and are contributing to the speeding up of native animal loss in our cities, along with human activity. There have been several sightings in cities in recent months, with one Melbourne fox affectionately named 'Frédérique', by locals. Another fox was photographed standing in the middle of a busy Perth intersection in the middle of the day, not long after local authorities revealed the predators had killed 300 turtles in an ecologically significant set of wetlands over the span of a year. Basnet explained that managing foxes in urban areas is difficult due to the lack of access to management tools in heavily populated areas. "What we do know is that if we can remove/reduce the available food then we can reduce their numbers," she said. "There is a lot of food available in cities from rubbish, pet food, fruit, compost, discarded food and tips." 🚘 Predator spotted on Aussie road exposes sinister reality 🐢 Aussie council under pressure as iconic species ravaged by predator 📸 Sad story behind image of emu toes amid Australia's invasive species crisis How Aussies can help reduce fox populations Everyday Aussies can help reduce fox populations in cities by restricting access to food. Don't leave pet food outside overnight Use enclosed compost bins Keep domestic animals secure at night Remove fallen fruit around fruit trees Keep garbage bins covered Block entry points to drains Close off access to underneath buildings Use fox-proof enclosures for poultry, remember foxes dig and can climb Turn off outside lights that might attract insects Reduce weeds that provide food and shelter, such as Blackberries Record sightings in FoxScan. Deterrents need to be intermittent as they will habituate quickly. E.g. sensor spotlights rather than lights on all the time. Have gardens with lots of plants that wildlife can hide in, grasses, shrubs, rocks, logs, etc. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary 1925: The frantic search for a pet fox called Rufus
CUMBERLAND: A pet fox, it seems, has the homing instinct of a well-cared for and intelligent dog. Rufus, the young fox who in April was dug out of an earth on the fell side near one of the lakes, was lately taken to Cheshire and spent a fortnight in a hunting country. He accompanied his master on his rambles, but one evening he went into a covert and failed to return. A vigorous, almost a frantic search was made for him. It was dreaded, since he has no fear of dogs and approaches them with all the trustfulness of a puppy, that he might be attacked and killed by a spaniel or retriever. But he could not be found. Two of the household remained up all night, and went out again at dawn to look for Rufus. They met him crossing the lawn. Somehow or other he had nosed his way back. The griminess of his coat almost suggested that he had been among the village ashbins. I saw Rufus the other day. The bracken and the heather had restored the glossiness of his coat. He looked what he is – a typical fell fox.
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Beware of ‘Swiper,' a Fox at Grand Teton Park With a Penchant for Footwear
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, known for its majestic mountain vistas and rich flora and fauna, has recently added another distinction of sorts: A wily fox there has been surreptitiously relieving campers of their shoes. 'Wanted for grand theft footwear,' the National Park Service announced with a poster featuring an illustration of a fox gripping a sneaker in its teeth. 'Crimes: Stealing left shoes (they taste better), flip-flops and campers' pride.' The whimsical wanted poster, which branded the fox the Sneaker Snatcher, the Midnight Mismatcher and Swiper the Fox, was part of the park's initial effort to warn campers that parkgoers' shoes had been vanishing. An accompanying poster stapled to a pole near the Lizard Creek Campground tallied 19 stolen pieces of footwear and suggested that the culprit was still on the prowl: '0 days since last fox/shoe incident.' But last week, as the tally of purloined footwear rose to 32, Grand Teton posted a video to Instagram scolding campers for intentionally leaving out their footwear as offerings for the thieving fox — 'just in case he visits.' In the video — set to audio of a scene from the 2008 animated movie 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' — a would-be camper leaves a pair of hiking boots outside a tent and the Sneaker Snatcher, played by a stuffed and mounted fox, thanks them for the sacrifice. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Wild fox goes on robbing spree
Grand Teton National Park has issued "WANTED" posters warning visitors about a fox, or multiple foxes, that have stolen at least 32 shoes from campers recently. Park rangers are advising visitors to secure their footwear in bear boxes, vehicles, or tents to prevent further thefts by the animal. Despite the park's warnings, some visitors are intentionally leaving their shoes out in hopes of encountering the elusive shoe-stealing fox. Park officials are concerned that the fox's increasing habituation to humans could lead to negative outcomes for the animal, including potential relocation or euthanasia. Visitors are urged to report any shoe thefts to rangers and maintain a safe distance from all wildlife, including foxes, to ensure both human and animal safety.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- The Independent
Sly as a... National park rangers blame sneaky fox for theft of 32 pairs of shoes
"WANTED" posters have been hung up in Grand Teton National Park to warn visitors that they may be visited by a sneaky thief if they aren't careful. A shoe-stealing fox has snatched at least 32 shoes from campers and other visitors to the Wyoming national park in the last several weeks. The thefts prompted park rangers to hang "WANTED" posters warning campers about the fox — whose aliases include "Sneaker Snatcher," "The Midnight Mismatcher' and "Swiper the Fox" — and advising them on how best protect their footwear. Campers should keep their shoes in a secure location — like a bear box, inside their vehicles, or at very least inside their tents — to avoid losing them to the fox. Officials told Backpack magazine they aren't entirely sure if it's one fox or a group of foxes stealing the shoes, but in either case, they want the thefts to stop. Unfortunately, the park's warning seems to have backfired. According to a post on the park's Instagram account, the warnings apparently only encouraged the visitors to leave out their shoes in hopes of catching a glimpse of the larcenous fox and its potential accomplices. 'What does the fox do with the shoes? We still don't know,' the park said in a social media post. 'Maybe it's a toy. Maybe it's a nesting material collection. Maybe it's fashion.' Emily Davis, a spokesperson for Grand Teton National Park, told Backpacker that the shoe heists are quite real, and the park's response — though lighthearted in tone — is to educate guests, not encourage interaction with the foxes. 'We were trying to educate our visitors in a fun way about this fox and not to habituate it,' Davis told the magazine. Park officials aren't sure why the fox or foxes keep targeting shoes. It could be that they are attracted to the salty sweat left in them after a day of hiking. But foxes are also generally mischievous and this one may simply just enjoy playing with shoes. Whatever the reason, the thefts mean that a fox or foxes are venturing closer to humans and doing so regularly. When wild animals become too comfortable around humans, it can lead to unfortunate outcomes for both. In general, the park service asks visitors to always stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards away from other animals, such as foxes. 'The NPS used humor to share the story of the sly shoe stealer, but they also pointed out that it's a problem for the fox to get acclimated to humans because it may need to be relocated or, in the worst-case scenario, euthanized,' the NPS wrote in an Instagram caption. Davis said that hikers and campers in the park should store their food, cosmetics and — at least during this latest crimewave — their unworn shoes inside of bear boxes. For those who don't camp, a bear box is a reinforced metal box meant to keep bears out. For visitors who do see a fox shoe theft, the best course of action is to contact a ranger so they can follow up. For visitors who do not see a fox shoe theft, you might want to check your feet, because your shoes may already be gone.
