4 legged foxes in Lakeridge/Occoquan (Reston, Springfield: condos, home, neighborhood)

[SmartMoney]

We've had one hanging out in the neighborhood for over a week now. He must be desperate for food, he's coming out in broad daylight and approaching parked cars. Animal control won't come out unless they think he's a danger. And right now, he's not. There's still some woods left where the new condos went in near Le Hermitage. My biggest concern is some of these kids aren't use to seeing wild animals. I don't think we are unique, I was visiting my son outside Annapolis this past weekend and saw one there too........only he looked better fed and had something in it's mouth as is ran out in front of me. Please tell your bored kids not to try to pet the fox. Rabie shots are not fun.

[hertfordshire]

4 legged foxes? As opposed to the 3 legged variety?

[SmartMoney]

Lol, try two. Last place I posted about the siting and left off "4 legged" I was asked if I knew their numbers. Just preventative wording.......

[RecessionCasualty]

When we were in Lake Ridge there was a fox who would wander around out in the open. It was really brave (or didn't care). Ditto for copperheads.

[tgbwc]

I see foxes quite often here in W. Springfield. They are pretty common, aren't they?

[BOS2IAD]

We have them here in Eastern LoCo. A few times they woke up my husband when they were barking. During the day time, occasionally one will come into our backyard and take a nap. We used to see rabbits frequently but no more. We wonder if the foxes ate them all.

I don't think you have to worry about kids petting them---unless the fox is rabid. Rabid animals might not run away when approached. The ones that aren't rabid, will run off if a human approaches them.

[BOS2IAD]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

I see foxes quite often here in W. Springfield. They are pretty common, aren't they?

With the out of control growth this area has experienced, their habitat is shrinking on a daily basis.

[SmartMoney]

I've lived in this area all my life, and most recently before Lakeridge, 30 years in Occoquan Forest, a heavily wooded subdivision. Never had a fox or bear over there, but I sure did come across copperheads when gardening. Get caught just one time to not being able to move by one of those suckers - that devil was coiled less than 4 or 5 feet from me. I was petrified to move and stayed still for almost an hour (probably closer to 20 minutes), waiting for someone to come help me. My teen son was the first to need something and immediately knew something was wrong by my face and eyes. Somehow, he understood I was telling him to stop and to look down, which he did. He got my ex, who came back with his gun de jour (.45, I believe). The snake was just too close and I didn't know how long I could hang on......having two boys with many pet snakes, this was not an action taken lightly. (Our favorite snake was a corn snake named Hillary). And then afterwards, I worried we would get in trouble for firing a weapon.

Another friend in Riverview caught a baby snake in the garage, not knowing what it was. He went to move the big glass jar he was in while cleaning the garage and the snake struck with such force, it pushed thru the screen top. He was bit on his hand. He cleaned it up and didn't give it another though until the next day when a red line started at his wrist and started moving up his arm. He was airlifted to Fairfax Hospital, the closest hospital with anti venom. That is how he learned baby snake bites are far more dangerous, the young have not learned to control their venom.

Other than the occasional groundhog and/or possum....oh that remind me of another story. So wild, hard to believe true. Guy was napping on couch in the Springwood's community (actually a former neighbor of the former PWC PD spokesperson). A groundhog decided to join him for a nap. He thought nothing of it, barely awake, thought it was their fat cat.......until his wife walked in and started screaming.

That's the extend of my wild animal stories in the neighborhood.

[Pub-911]

We live in the Dunn Loring-Merrifield area, and we have foxes trotting through the yard on a continuing basis, especially in the Spring when there are kits at home to be fed. Unless you are a chipmunk, squirrel, or mourning dove, the foxes pose no threat at all.

[ICS67]

Speaking personally, I'm much more concerned about the two-legged vixens and cougars that migrate to Reston Town Center on Friday and Saturday evenings to prey upon helpless juvenile males.