Three new young residents have arrived in our eastern Loudoun neighborhood, taking up residence in the storm water drain. The young foxes, or “kits,” are a surprise and a concern to neighbors as they exit and enter the storm drain and roam around yard
Julia Stewart
Jul 09, 2009
SOURCE: Loudoun Independent
In an effort to ascertain what to do "for them and for us, and the safety of our children and pets "three local and national agencies were contacted.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) website www.hsus.org/wildlife, a source for information on foxes, provided the first bit of good news. HSUS notes that while foxes are “Primarily nocturnal in urban areas…. more a method to avoid humans than an actual preference. (It's a popular misconception that a fox out and about during the daytime is disturbed or sick.) They will be active by day as long as they feel secure, and are near enough to safety.”
A call to the Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control elicited the news that this time of year, the department get calls every day with reports of foxes seen by residents and that, “Unless they (the foxes) are being neurological " showing signs of disorientation, falling down, walking around in circles " possible signs of rabies "they are just exploring and adapting now that they are old enough to be out on their own.”
But as our foxes had not yet exhibited outward symptoms of rabies, the Loudoun County Animal Care and Control website notes the department “Does not routinely house or care for wildlife. LCACC Officers do not respond to ‘nuisance’ situations involving wildlife in a residential area.”
Nuisance situations are described as wild animals living under decks, storage sheds, porches and the like, such as groundhogs, skunks, raccoons or opossums, and wild animals inhabiting or frequenting populated areas include squirrels, deer, foxes, opossums or skunks. Also wild animals in attics, basements, garages and storage sheds, such as squirrels, raccoons, bats or snakes; and damage to gardens, flower beds, ornamental shrubs from squirrels, deer, groundhogs, raccoons, according to the LCACC.Loudoun residents are advised to handle wildlife “nuisance” concerns by contacting a private animal and pest control company, which will likely euthanize the animals.
In a telephone interview with the Independent on July 7, Amy Seymour, volunteer coordinator with LCACC, advised that the foxes “…are not a threat, unless sick or injured,” and a general rule was to leave wildlife alone. “Foxes adapt well and even thrive in suburban and urban settings given the ready supply of food from bird feeders, cat and dog food left outside as well as trash,” she added.
Regarding any attempts to capture and relocate wildlife, Seymour explained that state guidelines regarding such efforts limit the release to “within a mile” of the capture. So, even if LCACC captured the foxes, they would be required to release the foxes within a mile, “…and that’s still in Sterling,” she added.
The rule is in place to protect property owners from wildlife being dumped on their land, as well as to protect the animals from being moved great distances away from food supplies, and familiarity with an area.
However, LCACC does respond to wildlife emergencies identified as “Wildlife in the living area of a residence or occupied area of a business that poses a threat to humans or domestic animals; wildlife that have had physical contact with a human or domestic animal, thereby potentially exposing the person or domestic animal to rabies; Wildlife that are displaying signs and symptoms of rabies and that pose a threat to humans or domestic animals. Also, wildlife that pose a threat to humans or domestic animals; and wildlife that are sick or injured and pose a threat to humans or domestic animals.
Another source of information is the Wildlife Rescue League of Northern Virginia, which operates a telephone hotline (703-440-0800) and a website www.wildliferescueleague.org. An e-mail regarding the foxes elicited a quick response from “ Antonia,” who offered an explanation for the fox’s daytime activities. “They are young and inexperienced and don’t know that they should not be so visible,” she advised. “Leave them alone unless they begin to act oddly, including discharge from eyes and nose, repeatedly walk in tight circles, disoriented and falling down, rear paralysis.” If those symptoms are evident, she advised a quick call to the animal warden.
The scratching and itching of our neighborhood foxes is a sign of mange, and not uncommon in foxes. “Foxes eat bunnies, birds, chipmunks, foods left out for birds, pets and trash,” she advised.
The Humane Society of the United States website www.hsus.org/wildlife provided ample information including this advisory: “Foxes, skunks, raccoons are all identified as rabies vector species, and as such should never been touched except by persons trained in animal care and control and who are not protected by rabies pre-exposure vaccines.” Yet the Humane Society notes that while residents are surprised to learn that foxes live in their neighborhoods, unless rabid "and fox rabies are rare in most places "they are not dangerous to humans.
However, regarding pets outdoors, the Humane Society cautioned, “We do not recommend that cats be allowed to roam freely, and suggest that the best way to avoid conflicts between foxes and cats is to keep cats indoors. By and large, foxes seem to pay little heed to adult cats, recognizing that they are dealing with an animal almost their own size. Kittens and small cats, however, could be easy prey for a fox; therefore, contact between the two should be avoided.”
The HSUS series, "Living in Harmony with Your Wild Neighbors" includes a pamphlet on foxes. For a free copy, e-mail wildlife@humanesociety.org.
