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Mammal
Fox
Vulpes vulpes
✓What to do NOW
- 1Keep a safe distance — never approach without protection
- 2A fox that does not flee at human presence is almost certainly sick (severe mange, distemper, toxoplasmosis)
- 3Call CRAS or local veterinary health service (ASL)
- 4If containment is necessary: use a transport crate, never your hands
- 5Fox cubs found alone during the day: observe from at least 50 metres for 4–6 hours — the mother returns at night
✗NEVER do this
- ✗Never touch bare-handed under any circumstances
- ✗Do not approach foxes that appear disorientated or do not flee
- ✗Do not feed wild foxes — it habituates them to humans, with risks for both
- ✗Do not pick up fox cubs alone — the mother will almost certainly return
- ✗Do not keep in the house: it is illegal and dangerous
⚠ Important note
Sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) is endemic in Italian fox populations. It presents as hair loss, crusting, and thickened skin. It is transmissible to humans (scabies) and domestic dogs — never touch a mangy fox. Canine distemper is lethal for the fox but does not transmit to humans. Sylvatic rabies has been officially eradicated in Italy since 2013.
⚖ Legal protection
The fox is not a protected species (Law 157/1992) and may be hunted. Orphaned cubs can be cared for by CRAS with regional authorisation.
Also known as
red foxfox cubcommon foxbaby foxyoung fox
Similar animals
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Full guide
Injured fox or fox cubs found alone: when to step in (and when to leave them)
In spring, fox cubs come out of the den and look abandoned. They almost never are. A guide to what to do — covering the difference between injured adults and cubs found alone.
Read the guide →Did you find a fox right now?
🆘 Find the nearest rescue centre →