Foxes used to be hunted because of their beautiful fur and because they are a carrier for Rabies, a disease that will kill any animal, and it can kill a human if it is not treated immediately. In Europe, especially in Germany, rabies cases have decreased to almost zero. Foxes are being vaccinated against this disease with little cubes made of fish, meat -- and vaccine.

It is interesting that foxes in Japan are not as shy as European foxes. In Japan and other Asian countries, the fox is considered a sacred animal. He has never been hunted as in Europe or America, so, evolution has left him as tame as he might have been in the rest of the world long time ago.