Bogotá foxes attracted to residential areas by improper waste disposal

Environmental authorities in Bogotá, including the Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR) and the Secretaría Distrital de Ambiente (SDA), are investigating why crab-eating foxes are appearing in residential areas of the Usaquén locality.

Experts have ruled out habitat loss in the Eastern Hills due to forest fires, illegal logging, or droughts. Instead, investigations suggest that improper disposal of organic waste and food scraps during garbage collection is attracting the animals to urban sectors. This uncontrolled access to human food sources is accelerating the habituation of these carnivores to human environments.

To monitor movement between the forest and urban perimeters, the CAR plans to install camera traps in strategic biological corridors. Authorities have also issued recommendations to residents to mitigate these encounters.