Meet the characters whose habitat we share.

Foxes in our neighborhood

If you see a fox in your neighborhood, it’s no cause for alarm. Here's what you need to know.

Adapted from the website of the Humane Society of the United States

Foxes are omnivores, hunting very small animals and scavenging in cities and towns where freely available pet food and garbage can make life easier. It’s not unusual for a fox to be seen out and about during the day. Foxes are afraid of people and will usually run away when they detect your presence, but they may visit your backyard or neighborhood. 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. Usually, the best thing to do is leave foxes alone.

Should I be worried if I see a fox?

If a fox doesn’t appear scared of you, they probably learned to associate people with food (likely because someone has been feeding them) and may exhibit boldness or even approach you. 

Are foxes dangerous? Do foxes attack humans?

Foxes are not dangerous and do not attack humans, except when they are rabid, which is very rare, or when they are captured and handled. Even then, a fox’s natural tendency is to flee rather than fight.

What should I do if a fox is under my porch, deck or shed?

Both red and gray foxes dig dens mostly for raising kits, but also to use as shelter from severe winter weather.

Dens under porches, decks or sheds are not uncommon in urban areas. If you find a fox family in an inconvenient spot, consider allowing them to stay until the young are old enough to begin accompanying their parents on foraging outings. At this point they are nearly ready to say goodbye to the den site and move on for good.

Fox kits are born in the spring, usually in March or April, and you’ll see them emerge from the den four or five weeks after birth. At nine weeks, they will begin to hunt with their parent; at this time, it’s safe to encourage them to leave.

Do foxes eat or attack cats, dogs or other pets?

A typical adult cat is almost the same size as a fox and has a well-deserved reputation for self-defense, so foxes are generally uninterested in taking on cats. Kittens and very small (less than five pounds) adult cats, however, could be prey for a fox. The best way to avoid encounters between foxes and cats is to keep your cats indoors—a practice that will keep your cats safe from other hazards like disease and fights, to mention only a few.

Most dogs are not at risk from an attack by a fox unless they have threatened their young, but they still should not be left outside unattended for a host of safety reasons, including harsh weather, harassment and dog-napping. Depending on where you live, very small dogs are vulnerable to harm from a plethora of predators, including foxes, so they should be monitored when outside.

Foxes may prey on small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs or chickens, so such pets should be kept indoors or housed in sturdy structures. (Pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs should also be kept indoors for their health and safety, especially at night.) Poultry should be protected by a sturdy coop and run built to withstand any break-in efforts by foxes, raccoons or dogs.

How can I tell if a fox has rabies?

It’s normal for foxes to be out and about during the day, so that alone isn’t cause for concern. Foxes prey on squirrels, birds, chipmunks and other animals that are only active by day, so they may simply be looking for a meal. Before calling to report a fox or to ask for assistance, take time to observe the fox's behavior and look for these signs:

• Partial paralysis or the inability to use their limbs well.

• Circling or staggering as if drunk.

• Self-mutilation.

• Acting aggressively for no reason.

• Acting unnaturally tame.

If you observe these signs, do not approach the fox—remember exposure to rabies is primarily through bites or saliva. Contact your local animal control agency, police department or health department if you see a fox showing the signs of rabies.

Can I get rabies from a fox?

Foxes do sometimes succumb to rabies (foxes make up about 7% of cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), but the good news is that the fox strain of the disease has rarely, if ever, been transmitted to a human in the U.S., and post-exposure treatment is 100% effective if promptly administered. The CDC reports that “about 60,000 Americans get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) each year to prevent rabies infection after being bitten or scratched by an infected or suspected infected animal.”

Rabies is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, such as a bite or scratch. Having your pets vaccinated against rabies is the most important thing you can do to protect them, yourself and others against rabies. Of 23 rabies-related deaths reported to the CDC between 2009 and 2018, none of the rabies exposures were attributed to foxes and eight were attributed to dogs.

How can I tell if a fox has mange?

Mange is an extremely debilitating affliction caused by microscopic parasites called Sarcoptes scabiei mites that result in either patchy or entire hair loss.

The disease causes intense irritation of the skin to the point where foxes have been known to chew their own tails off trying to relieve the itching. At advanced stages, infected foxes are often seen wandering around during the daytime, seemingly unafraid.

A mange-stricken fox may be mistaken for a rabid one because of their sickly appearance and seeming lack of fear. Mange-afflicted animals try to maintain their body temperature seeking any warm places they can find. Death may arise from a wide variety of causes, including starvation and hypothermia.

Foxes need an intact winter coat to survive winter's weather extremes, yet the mites prefer skin with little hair. So as the condition worsens and more hair is lost, the mites will eventually take over the animal's whole body.

Mange is a treatable condition. If you see a fox that you suspect is infected, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.

Oh, deer!

We and deer share a habitat.

From the Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Suburban deer sightings are so common that few of us pay much attention anymore. White-tailed deer are everywhere – along the roadways, throughout our parks, and in our very own backyards. 

Many people incorrectly presume that these animals belong in the deep woods, and the ones wandering into our neighborhoods are refugees displaced by residential, commercial, or agricultural development. In fact, development actually creates better habitat for deer. White-tailed deer are a fringe species, exploiting the benefits of forested land for cover and open areas for food, requiring a substantial portion of each to survive.

As it turns out, their natural habitat bears a striking resemblance to the one we’ve built for ourselves. When residential neighborhoods grow and multiply, they support much higher densities of deer than a natural setting would. We unwittingly provide a refuge in which a lack of natural predators, limited hunting, quality habitat, and a variety of abundant food resources combine to allow deer to reproduce at an equal or higher rate than natural environments.

When your backyard buffet draws hooved wildlife

Adapted from the website of the Humane Society of the United States

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Deer conflicts in the garden can be easily avoided or minimized thanks to a variety of readily available solutions. There may not be a perfect answer, but we do have a good toolbox for you to work with. 

Tolerance is a good thing

Tolerance is needed when figuring out the best solution for your particular deer problems. Some damage is bound to happen where there are deer, but you can minimize the damage. Under mild browsing conditions, a good repellent may be all that's needed. Under heavy browsing conditions, you may need to limit your plants to the more deer-resistant varieties and use deer-proof fencing around your garden.

Adjust what you plant

Take a look at is what is attracting the deer and where it is planted. Replace hard-hit flowers and other plants with more deer-resistant species. There are many deer-resistant annual and perennial flowers, ornamentals and tree species to choose from. 

A deer's taste buds vary geographically and seasonally and are affected by what alternative plants are available. The University of Maryland Extension offers a list of deer-resistant native plants. 

Good fences make good deer neighbors

Where deer browsing is a serious problem, the only completely effective way to protect crops or plants is with fencing. However, when deer are really hungry, they will jump fences up to eight feet high (some say even higher).

Where deer browsing is a serious problem, the only completely effective way to protect crops or plants is with fencing.

There are a variety of fencing options ranging from eight-foot woven wire fencing to electric fence garden kits to poly-tape (electrified nylon) fences, which are portable and good for more temporary use. The best type depends on how large an area you need to protect and for how long, so check with your local garden store or local Cooperative Extension agents before buying anything. The eight-foot-high woven wire fence stands out as the most effective deer barrier and it lasts more than 20 years.

Deer in Cheverly

The Cheverly Green Infrastructure Committee's Science Advisory Committee has studied deer in Cheverly. Find the report here. 

Presentation of a 2009 field study of deer rub in Euclid Woods. 

Snakes

Snakes are some of the most feared and misunderstood animals on Earth. This fear and misinformation has produced an abundance of folklore and misconceptions about snakes. Of the 26 kinds of snakes found in Maryland, only Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes are venomous. The majority of the others are harmless to humans. Snakes are beneficial to man by controlling rodents and other harmful animals. When offered the chance, a startled snake would rather crawl away than bite.

Among the most common snakes seen in Cheverly is the harmless Black Rat Snake. Juvenile black rat snakes are often mistaken  for copperheads.

Learn more here:

https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/Common-Snakes-of-Maryland-Photo-Guide.pdf