Silver fox;
Credit: Inge Westhoff
Luxembourg's Nature and Forest Agency has announced that a silver fox was recently spotted in the Niederanven area and has called for witnesses.
The silver fox is a genetic colour variant of Luxembourg's native red fox; the variant does not normally occur in Western Europe, but is in great demand in some Eastern European countries in fur farming.
The Nature and Forest Agency added that the behaviour of the animal spotted in Niederanven was more or less tame. As such, it is likely that this particular silver fox grew up in captivity. It can only be speculated whether it escaped or was deliberately abandoned. Both cases are illegal, as it is forbidden by law in Luxembourg to keep wild animals in captivity and to release wild animals. Animals raised in captivity that suddenly come out into the wild do not usually survive.
Any witnesses with information concerning the origins of this animal are asked to contact the Nature and Forest Agency via email: infractions@anf.etat.lu. The general public is asked not to touch or feed the animal under any circumstances.
