Thank you for your question. Yes, fox numbers are on the decline. Habitat loss, disease, and collisions with vehicles are all causes. Foxes that are captured in town are not required to be euthanized. If the fox is not euthanized, there are two options: 1) Release the fox onto the property where the fox was captured (which may not solve the issue depending on why the fox was trapped in the first place) or 2) Relocation to another property (written permission is needed from the owner of the property where the fox is to be released). It is not legal to take a captured fox to the nearest park or forest preserve. In fact, relocation is not recommended. Darryl Coates, an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist, explains why. If it is good habitat there are already foxes there. By adding another fox to that population you may exceed the carrying capacity of that habitat and cause a decline in the local fox population. The spread of disease is also of concern. Other things to keep in mind: What is the suitable distance for relocation? What is "good" habitat for fox? Who evaluates the habitat for relocation? Does the person moving the fox have permission to transport and release the animal? What safety measures must a person take to safely move a wild animal? and How much will relocation cost (monetary and environmentally)? While relocation may seem like the more humane solution, it often causes the death of the animal in an environment it does not know (e.g. killed by a vehicle as it tries to get back to it's territory, killed by a disease it picked up from a fox in the new habitat, etc.) If the fox isn't destroying property or causing a public health issue, it should be allowed to remain at its present location. But if the fox is truly causing a problem, it should be humanely euthanized by a professional.
