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Foxes in the Harz: Why feeding is dangerous for the animals!
The Harz region attracts with varied nature and wild animals, but feeding foxes poses risks to their health.
Foxes in the Harz: Why feeding is dangerous for the animals!
The Harz, known for its picturesque landscapes and diverse wildlife, attracts hikers from near and far. They particularly often encounter the charming foxes that live in the forests of the national park. But the friendly animal has a problem: Visitors repeatedly ignore the clear prohibitions and feed the wild animals, which can have fatal consequences. As news38.de reports, users in social media groups are increasingly expressing frustration about the behavior of other hikers who put out pretzels, walnuts and other snacks.
Feeding young foxes is strictly prohibited in the Harz National Park. Even though the national park administration is trying to educate people, many visitors seem to ignore the information signs. Not only is the animals' natural fear of people at risk, but also their health. Food can cause diseases and increase the risk of infection with parasites, as explained on nationalpark-harz.de. What is particularly critical is that young animals could learn to approach people, which could put them in life-threatening situations.
The Dangers of Feeding
Regular feeding not only influences the behavior of the foxes, but also their reproduction and survival strategies. According to scisimple.com, contact with human food can have far-reaching consequences. While high-quality food could actually promote survival, low-quality food poses a health risk. Additionally, gathering around food sources leads to an increased risk of disease spread.
Another issue is the habituation of animals to human food, which could make them “problem animals” that eventually come into conflict with humans. In the worst case scenario, these animals could have to be removed or killed. Due to these risks, the national park administration appeals to visitors to only observe foxes from a safe distance and to absolutely refrain from feeding them.
Education instead of punishment
Although the law prohibits feeding wild animals outside of emergency times, the violations continue. High fines can be imposed in Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony, but the national park administration is increasingly focusing on education instead of harsh punishments. Rangers and forest workers are out there to educate visitors about the dangers of feeding, and fortunately most visitors are sympathetic to the concerns. However, for repeated violations, action may be taken if necessary.
In summary, feeding foxes in the Harz is not only against the rules, but can also have serious consequences for the animals and nature. Respectful treatment of wildlife not only protects the animals, but also ensures our opportunity to observe these fascinating creatures in their natural environment.