Community Corner

New Canaan's Foxiest of Foxes

If you spot a grey fox running around in New Canaan, he's not just a very old regular fox.

Grey foxes are a smaller but more aggressive breed and this one has reportedly been making a ruckus in the area of Hillcrest Road. He's currently occupying the area under a gazebo that he's dug out a den beneath. He'll also exit his den to bark at people in the general vicinity he happens to spot.

"They're more aggressive and territorial He would've chased away the red foxes in the area," said New Canaan Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt.

Kleinschmitt believes he's a lone male without any kits - or baby foxes - because there were no signs of hunting being taught, like small bones being scattered about the area around the den.

Kleinschmitt said the fox would disappear by around October, but would return to that spot if the homeowners didn't put up animal-proof wiring around the base. He'd also make sure it remained his home.

"They have a tendency to get their way and if something smaller than him moved in, he'd chase it away," she said. "We've been trying to locate where he was because we've been getting reports of him in the area barking at people. Then I spotted these holes he'd dug out underneath the gazebo."

The fox usually treks out in the early hours and afternoon, spending the heat of the day resting.


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