April 29, 2026, 9:09 am | Read time: 6 minutes
A fox in Berlin-Reinickendorf has reportedly been repeatedly attacking people and dogs–in one incident, a dog even died. The case is causing concern among pet owners. But how dangerous are foxes really? And what is behind this unusual behavior? Fox expert Daniel Peller has thoroughly analyzed the case and provides a clear assessment for PETBOOK.
Attacks for Months–but Few Verified Facts
Since the end of January, a single fox in the Berlin-Reinickendorf area has reportedly become noticeable. According to reports, there have been several attacks on dogs. People have also been harassed and even bitten on the legs. There are said to have been at least 13 incidents in total.
Despite the numerous reports, the facts remain sparse. “Unfortunately, in the current case […] there is no truly reliable information, which makes an objective assessment of the situation difficult,” explains expert Daniel Peller, founder of Fox Aid, a nationwide network of fox-savvy advisory centers, veterinarians, care facilities, and wildlife rescue stations. Notably, “There are apparently neither photos nor videos of this fox,” even though it has been known for so long.
How Foxes Normally Behave
To understand the case, one must first know what is “normal” for urban foxes. After all, foxes have long been part of the cityscape.
“Urban foxes are usually born in the city, specialized in this habitat, and find more than enough food here,” says Peller. The animals have learned to live in close proximity to humans without completely losing their natural shyness.
Typically, foxes behave inconspicuously and avoid confrontations. “They perceive humans and dogs as threats and avoid direct contact,” says the expert.
Confrontations Are Extremely Rare
Even seemingly “noticeable” encounters are often harmless. It can happen that foxes follow people for a while or young, inexperienced animals approach dogs–perhaps out of play behavior. “Those unfamiliar with fox behavior and body language may misinterpret such situations as attacks,” explains Peller.
Foxes only engage in confrontations in rare extreme situations: “Foxes may snap if they feel threatened or their offspring are endangered and have no escape route. Anyone who corners a fox, grabs, hits, or kicks it, or lets a dog get too close to a fox den during the breeding season must expect defensive behavior.”
Clear Finding: The Behavior Is “Absolutely Atypical”
In the current case, however, the expert sees no room for misunderstanding: “If a wild fox actively and deliberately approaches people or dogs away from its den and attacks them, that is definitely not normal fox behavior–even during the breeding season.”
“Without a doubt, it must be noted that aggressive behavior […] is absolutely atypical for a fox and extremely rare,” emphasizes Peller. In more than 25 years of experience, he has known “fewer than ten such cases” nationwide.
The risk of being injured by a fox is therefore fundamentally “vanishingly small.” Thousands of foxes live in German cities–mostly completely inconspicuously.
Many Theories–but Few Convincing Explanations
In recent days, there has been much speculation about possible causes of the observed behavior. Peller considers most explanations to be unconvincing.
Rabies?
The expert clearly dismisses this concern: “For about 20 years, no case of rabies has been detected in a wild fox in this country.” Germany has been considered rabies-free since 2008. Moreover, an infected animal “could not possibly survive for three months.”
Diseases or Injuries?
This theory is also unlikely. While some diseases can cause behavioral changes, “these diseases usually come with noticeable additional symptoms, which have not been observed in the current case.”
Hunger?
Also not a plausible explanation. The fox is described as healthy and well-nourished. Moreover, even small dogs “are not part of a fox’s prey spectrum.”
Territorial Behavior or Offspring?
These theories also fall short, according to Peller. While foxes defend their young, this is limited to the den and its immediate surroundings. The attacks in Reinickendorf occur over an area of several hundred meters, and territorial behavior is shown to conspecifics, not dogs.
Feeding by Humans?
A frequently mentioned suspicion–but here too, the expert disagrees: “Even in regions where urban foxes are intensively fed, there is no evidence that the animals develop aggressive behavior as a result.” Feeding can make foxes more trusting and more likely to approach humans, “but it has nothing to do with aggression.”
The Most Likely Explanation: A Misconditioned Fox
Instead, Peller has a concrete and coherent theory: The fox may be misconditioned.
“The key to explaining the behavior lies for me in the eyewitness accounts of encounters with the fox: People would feed the fox, and if someone didn’t have food, the fox would become intrusive, follow people, and even snap at their legs. This behavior is unfortunately well-known to me from wildlife aid. It occurs especially in foxes that were taken from the wild as pups, subsequently improperly raised by humans without conspecifics, and thus completely misconditioned,” he explains.
“Such foxes lose their respect for humans,” says Peller. If they were also kept with dogs, they might show unusual behavior towards them as well–such as perceiving them as competition.
Is the Fox in Berlin a Victim of Misguided Animal Love?
His suspicion: “The fox in Reinickendorf is likely a severely misconditioned hand-reared animal that was eventually released. This would explain the fox’s impressive, well-groomed appearance and all aspects of its atypical behavior.” In the end, Peller says, such cases are often human-made: “The fox itself, as well as the people and dogs it has injured, would ultimately become victims of misguided animal love.”
The good news is that there is no basis for concerns that other foxes might mimic the aggressive behavior. “In foxes that grow up in the wild and with conspecifics, such misconditioning cannot occur–even if they are fed.”
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What Could Happen Now
If this assessment is confirmed, a solution is difficult. “For a misconditioned fox, I would assess the chances for reeducation […] as rather low,” says Peller.
How to deal with the fox now remains contentious. However, if it is not possible to coexist with the animal and prevent attacks, the last resort would be to capture the animal. Whether it can then be examined and placed in a wildlife rescue station or must be euthanized is open.
One thing is especially important now: education. People should know how to behave and, above all, not feed wild animals.
Also interesting: How should I behave if I encounter a fox?
How Residents Should Behave Now
The district office currently advises:
- Keep dogs on a leash and close by
- Maintain distance from wild animals
- Do not feed foxes
- Report unusual animals
Additionally, video recordings are helpful to better assess the behavior.