Video: Fox Wanders Through Backyard In Georgia

LITHONIA, GA — A fox can be seen wandering around a Lithonia backyard Wednesday night, as seen in a video on the Neighbors app.

A homeowner uploaded a video of the fox walking around their back patio before disappearing into the night.

Earlier this month, more foxes were seen on videos on the Neighbor app across Georgia.

Both red and gray foxes live among us in cities and towns, where scavenging for food makes life easy, The Humane Society said.

They generally avoid people, but the lure of easy food, such as pet food or unsecured garbage, can result in backyard visits. Usually, the best thing to do is leave foxes alone.

Here are a few facts from The Humane Society to put the presence of foxes in your yard in perspective:

• Foxes are not dangerous to 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.
• Foxes may prey on small pets or livestock (such as rabbits, guinea pigs or chickens), so pets should be kept indoors or housed in sturdy structures.
• Foxes will also eat various fruits, but they usually do not bother garden vegetables.
• Sometimes foxes are blamed for damage they did not cause, such as when they are spotted eating from spilled trash when neighborhood dogs or other animals were responsible for the overturned trash can.
• 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.

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 not interested in taking such cats on, The Humane Society said. 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.

Most dogs are not at risk from an attack by a fox unless they have threatened its young, but they still should not be left outside unattended for a host of safety reasons, including harassment or dog-napping, the group said.

Miniature dogs are especially vulnerable to harm from any number of predators, though, including foxes, so they should be even more closely monitored when outside.

What if a pet is bitten by a fox? Immediately take any pet who is bitten by any wild animal to your veterinarian for an examination and an assessment of any need for vaccination. Contact your local animal control agency or public health department and follow applicable state laws or local ordinances for monitoring your pet at home or in a veterinary clinic.

It's not all that unusual for a fox to be seen out and about during the day, so that is not 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 at that time, The Humane Society said. Before calling to report a fox or 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 above signs, the group said.