There’s been an increase in fox activity in urban areas this summer, says the Town of Lakeshore.
On Tuesday, the municipality issued an advisory telling the public to keep their distance from the small, furry scavengers.
Typically shy in behaviour, foxes are more likely to avoid human interaction than to seek it out.
Red foxes in Ontario usually don’t get any bigger than 12 pounds and about two and a half feet long (not including their tails).
As omnivores, their feeding habits include small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, fruits, grasses and root vegetables. As scavengers, they’re also happy to take advantage of garbage or carrion.
The Town of Lakeshore recommends members of the public discourage foxes by eliminating hiding places on their properties and by keeping their properties clean and free of trash.
Dogs should be kept indoors at night and pet feces should be picked up and properly disposed.
For more information on red foxes, visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources page at ontario.ca/mnrf.