Results suggest that urban stereotypes may be wrong.

Research from University of Hull has found that, while urban foxes may be bolder than their rural counterparts, they may not be as clever as their stereotype suggests.

Over a period of two years, scientists studied wild foxes in 104 locations in Scotland and England.

A puzzle feeder was given to foxes in each of the locations, which required them to complete a challenge to access the food. The puzzle required the foxes to use natural behaviours which they would use in the real world, such as biting, pulling and lifting materials.

Although foxes in 96 locations acknowledged the puzzles, only 31 locations saw foxes touch the puzzle and just 12 locations had foxes that gained access to food.

Researchers concluded that, while urban foxes were more likely to boldly touch the puzzles they were given than rural foxes, they were not more motivated to gain access to the treats.

This challenges beliefs that urban foxes are notorious scavengers in locations such as bins. While they may provide some urban foxes the opportunity for an easy meal, the behaviour of many foxes is more nuanced.

Although some London foxes were bolder and exploited the puzzles, many other foxes were too shy and unmotivated to use the puzzles.

This could mean they are more likely to interact when the food is more easy to access, such as in open containers.

Dr Blake Morton, an animal behaviourist and psychologist at University of Hull who led the study, said: “Our findings are interesting because urbanisation is the fastest form of landscape transformation on the planet, and so urban foxes are likely exposed to many unfamiliar situations.
 
“Foxes are renowned for thriving in cities, and our study suggests that bolder behaviour may help urban foxes adapt to such settings. However, just because a fox lives in a city, doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll engage in problem-solving.”

The full study can be found in Animal Behaviour journal

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