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FREDERICTON - The public is being reminded not to feed wildlife, including foxes. The Department of Natural Resources issued the reminder following recent reports of foxes approaching visitors in or near the Irving Nature Park in Saint John.

Although foxes are not overly aggressive and do not pose a major threat to humans, feeding wildlife almost always carries some risk, the department says. Wildlife can bite humans as well as transmit disease to pets.

In the wild, animals rely on their natural instincts to seek food as a means of surviving predators. They lose that instinct when they begin depending on humans for food.

There is an increased hazard of vehicles colliding with wildlife as forest animals enter residential areas looking for food. Once in communities, wildlife may damage homes and other property as they seek food consumed by humans.