Fox sightings increase in Volos urban areas

Residents in Volos and the wider Magnesia region of Thessaly have reported increasingly frequent sightings of foxes appearing within urban areas, including near homes and in private yards.

Pavlos Stamopoulos, president of the Thessaly branch of the Panhellenic Veterinary Association, stated that these sightings do not necessarily indicate an increase in the fox population. Instead, he attributed the behavior to the search for food. The proximity of residential areas to agricultural lands and natural ecosystems, combined with the availability of food sources such as waste, food scraps, and outdoor pet food, acts as a strong attractant for the animals.

Stamopoulos also noted that the increased visibility of foxes should not be automatically linked to a risk of rabies returning to Greece, noting that the country has not recorded a new rabies outbreak since 2014 and maintains ongoing vaccination programs.