Conservation officers are warning Whitehorse residents to avoid attracting foxes to their yards.
They have been receiving complaints almost daily from people concerned about foxes in the neighbourhood.
“Essentially, we don’t have the ability to deal with the issue at hand right now because there’s only a handful of people and lots of foxes,” said conservation officer Kris Gustafson.
Residents can prevent denning by blocking access under decks, sheds and foundations.
“That way you won’t have six or eight fox puppies playing on your porch at three o’clock in the morning,” he said.
Neighbours are sometimes divided on the issue, with some enjoying the presence of foxes while others worrying for small children and pets, said Gustafson.
But feeding foxes is unnecessary and illegal.
“There’s an abundance of natural food for foxes in the city limits. They don’t need us to feed them, it’s illegal to feed them, and when you do feed them and they become habituated to living in your backyard. Your neighbours may not value that experience as much as you.”
Those caught feeding wildlife can face a $115 fine.
Sometimes conservation officers will attempt to relocate foxes, but it is not easy to do, said Gustafson.
“It’s very labour intensive because you have to either take the whole family group or nothing.”
Fox families will typically move out on their own by mid-July or August.