People in New Jersey have been seeing lots red foxes around the Ocean City lately. Although these animals are usually found in Cape May County and other locations in New Jersey, the sightings have been very common in the said US state due to the recently developed comfort that the foxes have established with the customers of a donut shop nearby.
The foxes have been wandering close to the planks in the beach town, particularly in St. Charles Place and the Boardwalk. The animals are commonly seen crouching beneath the benches around a donut shop that specializes in homemade donuts. People took photographs of the bushy-haired animals and some were able to capture the young foxes in action as they eat donuts straight from people's hands. Although their preys such as birds and rodents are widely available for them in the island, the red foxes look as if they cannot resist the smell of vanilla, chocolate and cinnamon-powdered donuts.
The customers are also seen waving their towels like a matador to further attract the foxes. With this, the management of the Brown's restaurant, the concessionaire that serves the donuts, has taken action. The worker of the restaurant has posted two signages in the restaurant to warn the people against the practice of giving donuts to the foxes, said owner Jim Brown. The goal of the signs is to ensure that the customers and the animals are kept safe.
"Something is going to happen and it won't end in the fox's favor," said Brown. "We need to live with them, not the other way around."
The red foxes commonly settle on the islands but the rampant sightings may be explained by the ease that the animals have developed toward people in that specific location.
"If they don't feel threatened, they're going to be comfortable and play where people are," says Nick Holland, animal control specialist in charge in Cape May and Atlantic counties. "They rely on their fleet-footedness to get away. They're like deer; they'll stand there and stare at you until threatened, then take off."
Nonetheless, the New Jersey Audubon Society warns people that some red foxes may have the rabies virus and for that they advised that they are best viewed from afar.
Red foxes are distinct due to the notable white color of their tail tips. These presence of these animals in the Ocean City since at least 1999 are well known by the Department of Environmental Protection of the state, according to agency's spokesman Bob Considine.
Photo: Chris Parker | Flickr
