The aim of this study was to investigate city-dwellers' attitudes to foxes (Vulpes vulpes) living in urban areas and the reasons behind these attitudes. Problem-centred in-depth interviews were therefore held with theoretically sampled individuals living in Zurich, who were chosen because they held typical or extreme views. The audio recordings of the interviews were transcribed and their contents qualitatively analysed. It appears that opinions about the immigration of the red fox into urban Zurich are divided. Some consider "civilisation", as represented by the city, and "wilderness", as represented by the fox, to be incompatible and are against having foxes in city areas. Others question the assumption that humans have a right to dominate nature. They try to live in harmony with nature and welcome the presence of foxes. Yet others are torn between these two extremes and have a more ambivalent attitude to foxes in urban areas. If humans and foxes are to coexist peacefully in cities, then there must be public discussion of the relationships between "wilderness" and "civilisation" and between "nature" and "culture". Furthermore, it will be necessary to demonstrate concrete ways of dealing with problems arising from the presence of foxes in cities, such as damage to gardens and loss of domestic animals.