| Re: Mange in foxes
Sarcoptic mange is more likely (adult fox, significant baldness over rear flanks and back) but the treatment is the same anyway (ivermectin).
I agree that unless you have a good relationship with the fox, treatment is tricky and may require capture. In my case, the foxes are so regular that it's possible to target feed if needed (I don't regularly feed foxes, but will target an ill one). No certainty that there won't be re-infestation, but to date the foxes we've treated have recovered and not been re-infested to our knowledge (they're regular so we can generally check). If we do have to treat again, so what? It's easy. It works. And as I say there haven't been signs of a major outbreak (eg the cubs around the adults have been fine).
This - by the way - is a heck of lot easier than trying to trap/kill a fox. A major outbreak may well need a different strategy, but given an otherwise healthy fox (possibly with young to feed) I can't see an issue with attempting treatment where possible. |