Foxes wear out their welcome in Bay Area neighborhood
DEAR JOAN >> We have several foxes in our neighborhood. A neighbor claims three were born in her backyard a couple of months ago, and they are making nuisances of themselves around the neighborhood.
It was kind of fun at first, with photos and incidents exchanged on Nextdoor, but while I am sure this is not a good thing for the foxes, I am wondering how dangerous it might be, for both foxes and people. I doubt they have had rabies shots and suspect they are subject to rabies.
I was rather pleased to see one walk past my back patio door, headed for the corner of my yard, where there is a big rock. It jumped on the rock and went up and over the fence into the neighbor’s yard with what looked very much like a squirrel tail hanging from its mouth. As the squirrels decimate our pomegranate crop every year, mostly wasting them, I wasn’t sad about that at all.
A couple of days later, I saw it come down from that corner into our yard and head around the side of our house with some kind of bird in its mouth, maybe a baby duck or large dove with a stretched-out neck.
I don’t want to be the bad guy of the neighborhood, but I suspect this is not a good thing, for people or foxes, to have foxes living in people’s yards. I just don’t know what to do, if anything. — Doris Tuck, Bay Area
DEAR DORIS >> There are ways of discouraging foxes from coming into your yard, but when you’re dealing with an entire neighborhood, everyone needs to be involved, which can be a hard sell for some.
You are right when you say having foxes — or any wildlife — living closely with humans is not a good thing for the animal. Irritation at the loss of squirrels and birds can turn into real anger when a neighbor loses a pet.
Ask your neighbors to join in on the unwelcoming party. Search yards for dens, which are usually found under houses, sheds and decks. Once the dens are empty, close the entrances to them.
Pet and other foods shouldn’t be left out for the foxes to get into, and small pets should be kept indoors or accompanied when outside. Places with tall grasses, bushes or weeds should be trimmed to remove hiding places.
Instead of taking pictures of the foxes when you see them, make noises to scare them off. With everyone working together, the foxes should get the message and move away from the area.
Grants available
The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee is taking applications for its 2020 propagation fund grants. If you have a project related to improving habitat, doing scientific research, helping to educate the public about wildlife conservation, threatened and endangered species, or resolving human-wildlife interaction issues, the committee may be able to help with grant money.
Applications for project funding will be accepted through 5 p.m. Jan. 6. Last year, the committee awarded grants of $67,267 to 10 projects.
The money comes from fines levied on those violating the state’s Fish and Game laws. For an application, go to cccounty.us/ grant or contact Maureen Parkes at 925-674-7831 or maureen.parkes@dcd.cccounty.us.