INFOX – Kommunikation für ein konfliktarmes Zusammenleben von Menschen und Stadtfüchsen

INFOX ‐ communicating to further the peaceful coexistence of people and urban foxes Fox populations in Switzerland have undergone a drastic increase since the mid-1980’s. Parallel to the population growth in rural areas, foxes have emerged in urban areas. Today, foxes already live in all Swiss cities. In 1995 the Integrated Fox Project, IFP, a research and communication project, was started to study this medium-sized carnivore and to provide information about it. INFOX, the communication campaign of the IFP, was planned in conjunction with the scientific research program. The aim of the campaign was to ensure the peaceful coexistence of people and foxes. The public were informed about the preliminary findings and given the opportunity to comment on their attitudes towards foxes and any associated problems. The campaign was continually adjusted to the needs of the public. It included several communiques for the media, a TV series, an exhibition, a drawing contest about urban foxes for school children, leaflets, a telephone information line and more. Besides providing biological information, the public were actively informed about negative aspects connected with urban fox populations, like rabies or the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, in order to enable them to assess risks realistically and to prevent overreaction, panic or carelessness when dealing with foxes.