Booming Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Population

Observation by Ginger Bear:

Foxes everywhere! It’s a bit because people are feeding them, and they’re getting into the dumpster now too. But I’ve never seen them like this before. I’ve actually never seen them getting into our dumpsters like this before, or so abundant. It’s wild. And there are much less rodents as well.

Consult by Elizabeth Lindley:

This can have public health implications as rabies is enzootic in a vast range of fox populations, meaning there is always a certain level of rabies in the population. King Cove is within the range where rabies is enzootic within the fox population, so great caution should be taken between human and fox interactions. Source: Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Rabies Resources for the General Public

Comments from LEO editors:

According the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is commonly found in most regions of Alaska except for some of the islands in Southeast Alaska, the western Aleutians, and occasionally in Prince William Sound. They are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat just about anything. When preferred food such as small mammals, birds, and eggs are abundant, they will create caches of food to store for later. Foxes that have little human exposure are often wary and curious, but exhibit less fear with increased human contact. Elizabeth Lindley Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game Red Fox Species Profile

This post has been shared with environmental health staff at the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association.