If you thought the wildlife around you was limited to the usual birds and small marsupials, you might want to take a closer look.
Something unusual has been quietly making its presence felt, surprising locals and changing the way some see their everyday surroundings.
Recently, an unexpected visitor was seen casually strolling up the stairs of an apartment complex in broad daylight, blending into the city bustle as if it belonged there. This curious creature has been catching the attention of many who pass by.
The red fox, affectionately named ‘Frédérique’ by residents, has been spotted frequently in the suburb of Parkville, Melbourne, where it’s becoming something of a local celebrity, with residents reporting regular sightings.
It was seen nonchalantly trotting up the stairs of an apartment complex in broad daylight, as if it were just another resident heading home after a long day.
‘He walks around like he owns the place,’ one Melburnian shared online, while another lamented, ‘I hate that they’re so cute but at the same time such a pest.’
And therein lies the problem: foxes are undeniably charming, but their impact on our environment is anything but.
A growing urban menace
While foxes have long been a fixture in rural Australia, their numbers in our cities are on the rise—and it’s not just Melbourne feeling the effects.
Perth and Sydney are also grappling with burgeoning urban fox populations.
According to Agriculture Victoria, there can be as many as 16 foxes per square kilometre in Melbourne alone.
That’s a staggering figure, especially when you consider that these cunning creatures are not native to our shores.
Recent research from the Australian National University estimates there are around 1.7 million foxes across the country, with populations established on 80 per cent of the continent.
Their adaptability is impressive, but it comes at a steep cost to our native wildlife.
The devastating toll on wildlife
Australia already holds the unenviable title of having the world’s worst mammal extinction rate, and foxes are a major contributor.
Each year, these predators kill an estimated 300 million native mammals, birds and reptiles.
Ground-nesting birds and small to medium-sized mammals are particularly vulnerable, with Parks Victoria noting that foxes have played a significant role in their decline.
It’s not just wildlife that suffers. Foxes are opportunistic scavengers, spreading weeds and causing significant losses in livestock systems.
In Victoria, they’re officially declared as established pests, and homeowners and land managers are legally required to take steps to control their spread.
Foxes in the city: Why are they thriving?
Urban areas offer foxes a smorgasbord of easy pickings: discarded food, pet bowls left outside, compost bins and even the odd chicken coop.
The abundance of food, water and shelter means city foxes can thrive, often outnumbering their rural counterparts.
And while it might be tempting to see Frédérique and his kin as harmless urban mascots, their presence is a stark reminder of the broader invasive species crisis facing Australia.
Earlier this year, a fox was photographed standing in the middle of a busy Perth intersection, not long after authorities revealed that foxes had decimated a local turtle population—killing 300 turtles in a single year.
Why can’t we just get rid of them?
Controlling fox numbers in cities is a complex challenge.
As population management specialist Gillian Basnett explains, ‘Because we’re so close to human habitation and pet animals, it leaves us with a limited set of tools to manage fox numbers.’
Traditional methods like baiting and trapping are often impractical or unsafe in urban environments.
However, there are practical steps we can all take to help protect our local wildlife and make our neighbourhoods less attractive to foxes:
- Avoid leaving pet food outside overnight.
- Use compost bins with secure lids.
- Make sure pets and other domestic animals are safely contained at night.
- Clear away any fallen fruit from beneath fruit trees.
- Always keep your rubbish bins tightly covered.
- Seal off access points to drains and block entry under buildings.
- Use fox-proof pens for poultry, keeping in mind foxes can both dig and climb.
- Switch off outdoor lights that might attract insects, which in turn can draw foxes.
- Cut back on weeds like blackberries that offer food and shelter for pests.
- Report any fox sightings through FoxScan, the national monitoring program.
Deterrents need to be changed up regularly, as foxes are quick to adapt. Sensor spotlights, for example, are more effective than leaving lights on all night.
And if you’re a keen gardener, consider planting dense shrubs and grasses, and placing logs or rocks to give native wildlife places to hide.
A shared responsibility
While it’s easy to be charmed by the sight of a fox sauntering through the suburbs, it’s important to remember the bigger picture.
Foxes are here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future, but by working together, we can help limit their impact on our precious native species.
What has been your experience with invasive species in your neighbourhood? Do you think enough is being done to manage their presence? What measures do you believe could be effective in reducing their impact?
We invite you to share your thoughts and stories in the comments below. Your insights contribute to a broader conversation about protecting Australia’s unique ecosystems.
