North Caldwell Cops Get 'Many Calls' About Fox Sightings

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ — That fox you spotted in North Caldwell? It’s most likely “no danger,” authorities say.

Last week, the North Caldwell Police Department issued an advisory about local fox sightings, several of which have inspired calls to the cops.

Here’s what the NCPD had to say:

“We are receiving many calls about foxes being seen out during the day. The Department of Fish and Game provide us with this information… Although primarily nocturnal (active at night), foxes are often seen in suburban or urban areas during the day. Foxes are also fairly transient animals and frequently move from place to place. Foxes present no danger to humans unless they are rabid, which is rare, or if they are being captured or handled. Please always use caution and report any unusual behavior or sick-looking foxes.”

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According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, there are two species of foxes found in New Jersey: the red fox and the gray fox.

“Foxes, especially red foxes, commonly live in close association with human residences and communities,” the DFW states on its website. “They frequently inhabit yards, parks, and golf courses, especially areas that adjoin suitable, undeveloped habitat.”

Healthy foxes pose virtually no danger to humans, the DFW states.

According to the DFW:

“Foxes can grow accustomed to human activity but are seldom aggressive toward people. Expanding housing development, particularly in historically rural areas, increases the chances of interactions between humans and foxes, as well as other wildlife. Many homeowners do not realize that their lawn may be a more attractive habitat to foxes than surrounding mature forest. Eliminating healthy foxes is not warranted based solely on human safety concerns. People uncomfortable with the presence of foxes should remove attractants, exclude foxes with fencing and employ scaring techniques. In many cases, homeowner's perceptions of problems are unfounded, and in some cases, the mere presence of a fox is perceived as a problem.”

The DFW offers advice about what to do if you spot a potentially unhealthy fox:

“Foxes can carry the organisms responsible for several contagious diseases such as mange, distemper and rabies. Animals that appear sick or that are acting abnormally should be avoided. The following symptoms may indicate the presence of rabies or other neurological diseases in mammals: unprovoked aggression, impaired movement, paralysis or lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior and disorientation. Local animal control officers, police, or the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Wildlife Control Unit or the DEP Hotline (877-WARN-DEP). should be contacted if assistance is needed with a diseased animal.”

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