Fox Goes For A Jog In Woodbridge Neighborhood

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A red fox went jogging early Friday morning under the deck of a house in the Port Potomac community of Woodbridge.

When they woke up on Friday, Dec. 27, the Woodbridge homeowners had video to prove that a healthy-looking fox was in the neighhorbood after a Neighbors by Ring camera caught the animal passing through under their deck. The fox makes its appearance during the first eight seconds of the video below.

"If you have pets that go outside, you may want to watch out," the homeowners commented.

Fox sightings are common in Prince William County and other parts of northern and central Virginia. Although this fox was caught on camera at night, residents are reporting an increasing number of daytime fox sightings.

With the increased daytime sighting, wildlife experts have stayed busy dismissing the myth that a daytime fox sighting could mean the animal is rabid. The fox may have many mouths to feed, which could mean the fox needs to go on hunting trips during both daylight and nighttime hours, according to experts.

"A fox cutting through your yard is probably just passing through on their way between hunting areas and no action is necessary on your part," the Humane Society of the United States says in an information sheet on foxes.

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Foxes are not dangerous to humans, except when they are rabid, which is very rare, or when they are captured and handled, according to the Humane Society. A fox's natural tendency is to flee rather than fight. However, foxes may prey on small pets or livestock such as rabbits, guinea pigs or chickens, so small pets should be kept indoors or housed in sturdy structures.

Ring, the owner of the Neighbors app, is a Patch advertiser. Patch received no compensation for this article.