Chief’s Column: Out-fox the foxes with a few simple tricks
The Grafton Police Department has received several reports of fox and coyote sightings in town recently so I thought I would run this column again for the safety of everyone.
QUESTION: I was out jogging this morning when I saw a fox and decided to turn around. While I was jogging home, the fox came up beside me and was watching me. I stopped and yelled at it to go home and it moved further away. I continued yelling at it and started walking home. What is the best thing to do when meeting up with a fox or coyote? Needless to say, I was scared and very glad to get home without any incidents.
ANSWER: Foxes and coyotes can thrive close to humans in suburban and urban areas. They require only a source of food, water and cover. Foxes are usually shy and wary but they are also curious. They can be active night or day and sightings at dusk or dawn are common. They remain active all year and do not hibernate. Foxes eat many different foods including small rodents, squirrels, rabbits, birds, eggs, insects, vegetation, fruit and carrion. The Grafton Police Department would like to provide these suggestions from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to make your property and your family less attractive to foxes. More information can be found at www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/.
Secure your garbage: Foxes and coyotes will raid open trash materials and compost piles. Secure your garbage in tough plastic containers with tight fitting lids and keep in secure buildings when possible. Take out trash the morning pick-up is scheduled, not the previous night. Keep compost piles in containers designed to contain but vent the material.
Don’t feed or try to pet foxes: Keep wild things wild! Feeding, whether direct or indirect, can cause foxes and coyotes to act tame and over time may lead to bold behavior. Foxes that rely on natural food items remain wild and wary of humans.
Keep your pets safe: Although free roaming pets are more likely to be killed by automobiles than by wild animals, foxes can view cats as potential food. For the safety of your pets, keep them restrained at all times.
Keep bird feeder areas clean: Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground as the seed attracts many small mammals foxes or coyotes prey upon. Remove feeders if they are regularly seen around your yard. Feed pets indoors. Outdoor feeding attracts many wild animals to your door.
Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds: Foxes and coyotes use such areas for resting and raising young.
Don’t let them intimidate you: Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten foxes and coyotes with loud noises, bright lights, or water.
Cut back brushy edges in your yard: These areas provide cover for foxes and their prey.
Educate your neighbors: Pass this information along since your efforts will be futile if neighbors are providing food or shelter for foxes and coyotes.
Also, if confronted, do not turn your back or run from a fox or coyote. If approached or followed by a coyote or fox, make loud noises, yell and make yourself look big. If either approach to an uncomfortably close distance, throw rocks or other objects at the fox or coyote.
Remind children not to approach or feed any wildlife. If children feel threatened by the presence of foxes or other wildlife, they should stay in a group and walk slowly to an area where adults are present. Make sure your child understands that a fox or coyote is a wild dog and should be treated with caution. Adults should keep themselves between the animal and small children. While attacks on humans are extremely rare, people should still take precautions.
Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.
Chief of Police
