The front page of the April 17 Journal-World contains a Disneyesque picture of a wild red fox and one of her six kits. The article that accompanies it is incomplete and endangers the lives of humans as well as domesticated animals we care for. As a former student of professor Stan Roth, I cannot in good conscience allow the public to be uninformed of the dangers that exist when harboring a wild animal in an urban setting. Interactions of humans and their pets with wildlife increase the potential for transmission of diseases. Red foxes can be carriers of D immitis (canine heartworm), fleas, ticks, rabies and gastrointestinal parasites. Foxes urinate only where the food smell suggests food, but none is available. If food odor is particularly persistent, a fox marks the site with feces.

A recent study focused on the parasite infestation of small and medium sized mammals within the city limits compared to the same type of wild mammals in rural areas. The data shows that parasite densities are substantially higher in urban wildlife. Especially in the type of fleas that infest cats and dogs.

Anthropogenic interference by providing new urban habitats to wild animals allows humans and domesticated mammals to get involved in what would be a natural balance that occurs when there is a large transmission of parasites.

The public should be aware that when “we love to see the foxes,” disease transmission to humans and domesticated animals will occur.

Dean W. Penny,

Lawrence