In the fairy tale world, Reineke Fuchs is a culprit who repeatedly saves himself from precarious situations through ingenious lies. On the Facebook portal Meine Südstadt, a video post about a fox that was spotted at the Ulrepforte last week caused a stir. One of the commentators knew to report that the foxes “were used specifically for rat control within Cologne”.
This, she continued, would have been confirmed by a man who “was responsible for this controlled exposure on behalf of the city of Cologne and was traveling in a van in Marienburg”.
The fact is, the foxes have long been living in the city. They are spotted not only in the southern part of the city in the Volksgarten or on the Carthusian Wall, but also in the Melatenfriedhof, in the green belt or even on the Waidmarkt.
City of Cologne does not expose any wild animals
According to the city press office, the population of city foxes can only be estimated. “It is assumed that there are around 500 animals. The climate, the supply of food and diseases make the stock sometimes bigger and sometimes smaller, ”says the Office for Landscape Management and Green Areas. The fact that it is “deliberately” exposed is simply wrong: “The city does not release any wild animals in the pacified district. The release of wild animals is fundamentally prohibited under federal and state hunting law, ”it says categorically.
There are around 500 city foxes in Cologne
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Rather, the fox follows humans because there – just like rats – they can find enough food through discarded food. Since he follows people, he is also called “cultural follower”. Its ancestral habitat was the forest and with the clearing of the forest, in favor of agricultural areas, also the peripheral areas. In this way, he is getting closer and closer to big city people.
And apparently the fox knows that it is not allowed to hunt in the city. So the city dweller has a far greater influence on the fox population than a knowledgeable hunter. “If people no longer throw away food, garbage cans are locked or cat food is not available on the terrace for outdoors, they can influence the level of wild animals in the city,” suggests the Office for Landscape Management and Green Areas.
Lower hunting authority helps owners
Important for property owners: They are initially obliged to drive the fox away. If you need help with this, you can contact the Lower Hunting Authority, which will, for example, help set up traps or seal burrows. It is forbidden to use a firearm. So for the fox hardly remains a natural enemy. And whoever finds an injured animal should inform the police.
Questions about this can be answered by the Lower Hunting Authority: 0221 / 221-26681 or 221-25181.
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