Foxes appearing in Bogotá residential areas due to food waste

The presence of crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) in residential areas of Usaquén, northern Bogotá, has been linked to the availability of organic food waste rather than environmental crises. The Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca (CAR) and the Secretaría Distrital de Ambiente conducted technical inspections to determine if the animals were being displaced by forest fires, illegal logging, or droughts in the Eastern Hills.

Authorities confirmed there is no evidence of forced displacement due to environmental threats. Instead, field investigations indicate that the foxes have become habituated to urban areas because they find food scraps in improperly disposed garbage. This behavior has reportedly increased since the pandemic.

Environmental officials stated that the foxes play an essential role in ecosystem balance and do not pose a threat to residents. As part of a management plan, the CAR will install camera traps in strategic points of the Eastern Hills to monitor movement patterns and develop future conservation strategies. Authorities have urged the community to avoid interacting with the animals and to improve waste management.