Spatial distribution of human-wildlife interactions predicts coexistence with a global urban carnivore, the red fox

Despite growing recognition that spatial factors such as urbanisation and geographic region shape human-wildlife interactions, few studies have examined – on a large geographic scale – how urbanisation and regional variation in animal ecology together influence public attitudes and behaviours towards wildlife. Understanding spatial factors may have implications for urban rewilding, as its success will depend on local tolerance of wildlife and may potentially increase human-wildlife interactions, such as bin-raiding and public wildlife feeding. We examined how urbanisation, geographic region, and public wildlife feeding influence reported bin-raiding, public attitudes, and the use of control measures towards the world’s most urbanised terrestrial carnivore, the red fox, Vulpes vulpes . Online survey data were obtained from 1,275 participants in the United Kingdom. Fox bin-raiding was associated with increased levels of public wildlife feeding, more negative attitudes towards foxes, and greater use of professional and do-it-yourself pest control measures. However, the role of urbanisation and geographic differences varied among these relationships. Specifically, urbanisation and geographic region significantly predicted reports of fox bin-raiding, with urban residents – particularly those living in London – more likely to report such behaviour. Urbanisation influenced people’s use of professional pest control of foxes within their area, and geographic region influenced the use of do-it-yourself control measures. Neither urbanisation nor geographic region significantly predicted public attitudes towards foxes. Together, these findings highlight the complex interactions between spatial context, human attitudes and behaviour, and animal ecology, underscoring the importance of nuanced, context-specific strategies to support human-wildlife coexistence and urban rewilding initiatives.