People urged to stop feeding wild foxes

Forestry officials are urging people to stop feeding or handling wild foxes, especially in the Port aux Basques area and on Fogo Island.

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture said conservation officers have been responding to reports of habituated foxes on Fogo Island and the Port aux Basques area.

Feeding foxes or any other type of wildlife creates a public safety hazard and could result in animals being euthanized, the department stated in a news release.

While people’s instinct is often to help wild animals that appear hungry, newborn, orphaned, abandoned or injured, animals should instead be left undisturbed in their natural habitat, provincial forestry officials said.

Wild animals can be dangerous and unpredictable when approached, and they may carry transmissible diseases that could pose health and safety problems to people or pets.

Wildlife survives best on food sources found in their natural habitat. Rather than helping them, giving wild animals human or pet food can negatively affect their health.

When people provide wild animals with an easy food source, the animals lose their natural fear of humans and human activity. It also affects conservation officers’ efforts to capture and relocate the animals.

Conservation officers will only handle wildlife if there is a public safety concern or circumstances warrant an animal’s removal.

Anyone encountering an aggressive or a nuisance wild animal is asked to report it to forestry and wildlife district offices throughout the province.