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Residents press council on fox packs; trapper advises leaving animals alone
Summary
Residents raised safety concerns about groups of foxes near a park; the trapper and Mr. Cradle reported the vendor said it is mating season and recommended leaving foxes alone, while the council asked for a second vendor quote and for Park and Planning to place monitoring cameras.
Several residents and Councilwoman Downing raised alarms about foxes frequently appearing in pairs and threes near the townhouse park and in residential areas. Councilwoman Downing said residents feared someone might try to shoot the animals and urged the town to act before that happens. Mr. Cradle reported he had spoken with a trapper (identified in the meeting) who said trapping during mating season would be ineffective and that if a mother were removed the pups could be orphaned; the vendor’s recommendation was to leave the foxes alone and monitor behavior for signs of rabies.
Council’s response: the mayor directed Mr. Cradle to seek a second vendor quote; the council also said it would schedule another meeting with Park and Planning to review camera monitoring results that had been discussed and to consider public‑safety measures if monitoring shows abnormal behavior.
Public safety context: the trapper advised that foxes typically avoid people unless cornered or threatened; council asked Park and Planning to deploy monitoring cameras and determine whether behavior indicates rabies or another public‑health risk.
