Sorry, forgot my location doesn’t show up any more. I’m in the UK. “Urban” (and suburban) foxes are very common here. Are they less so in the US?
Edit - I see you addressed that last point, but it would surprise me if they didn’t come into suburban areas in the States, given the ready availability of food etc.
I think so. Most of our “urban” small animals (other than the ubiquitous squirrels and rabbits) are raccoons, skunks and opossums, and those mostly because they like our garbage. I’m certainly not familiar with (sub)urban foxes here in the northeast, anyway.
ETA: On Googling “urban fox”, I’m finding that the vast majority of results are from the UK. I’m going to WAG that there’s just not enough wild room for foxes on Great Britain and they’re being squeezed into a (sub)urban existence simply from habitat pressure there. That’s not an issue in the US, really.
Actually, my understanding is that one reason we Yanks don’t see more foxes is due to the tremendous success of coyotes, a larger omnivore filling the same ecological niche.
Coyotes, deer, and raccoons have been EXTREMELY successful in adapting to human settlement.
I see coyotes all the time, at golf courses, or even running down the street.
And when coyotes move in, foxes tend to move out.
Also lawyers. Tons of lawyers over here.
I thought I had something new to contribute, but on re-read see pretty much everything already covered by redtail23.
Lengthy potential incubation period, but much shorter interval between “actively infectious” and “showing symptoms” explains the differing requirements for a dog that has bitten someone, versus a dog that was bitten by something else.
I will though add that raccoons, bats, and skunks are a special case. These animals may be “asymptomatic carriers” meaning that they can harbor and even transmit the rabies virus without developing symptoms of the disease. Many people make pets of these animals. (Well, raccoons at least, fewer skunks, and probably darn few bats.) But because of this peculiarity of biology, no statement of origin, history of captivity, or even vaccination documentation is sufficient when dealing with these animals. Quarantine doesn’t work; microscopic examination of brain tissue is required to confirm or rule out rabies. So, do not get bitten by your friend’s pet raccoon or skunk! If the animal in question “gets away”, well, you had better get yourself that expensive series of shots real quick. Same goes for the ones in the park that come begging for handouts (literally) and “don’t look rabid…”.