A couple of foxes were spotted crossing Arlington Road from Bethesda Elementary School to Moorland Lane last night. One briefly laid down on the grass on Moorland, but the second noticed human activity and decided to run back to the school. That startled the first fox, who ran off. I wonder where their den is, since there aren't any large wooded areas nearby other than Little Falls Stream Valley Park, many blocks from the school.
Foxes are generally beneficial unless they are rabid. They are expert rodent exterminators. Rabbits - which are not rodents - are sometimes seen on the residential properties between Arlington Road and Woodmont Avenue, and are likely what these foxes were looking for last night. Or maybe just downtown Bethesda's explosive post-2020 rat population.
14 comments:
If foxes can help control Bethesda's rat population, can we bring more in? Lol
It seems those ubiquitous rat poison stations around the downtown aren't very effective given the hearty sized rats abound at night.
Hopefully the number of foxes will continue. They hunt late at night and would be great deterrents to the ever increasing car jackers we're seeing. If the police won't or can't do anything, the fox could simply bite a few of these creeps on the leg. Contracting rabies would be a great anti-crime tool.
Foxes are quite common in the surrounded suburbs and adaptable. I'm not surprises that they are moving into downtown Bethesda. Having had squirrels move into my roof, I'm always happy to see foxes (and hawks which Bethesda also hosts in that area).
Learning.
Bob - Coyotes are running down Fairfax Road towards Little Falls. Several folks reported seeing them,.
I saw one before Christmas at about 10pm. He looked like a ratty patchwork quilt.
Looked hungry.
1:41: I'm glad you mentioned this, because in 2022, I twice have heard what sounded like a coyote howl during the night in the Westbard area. I know they started showing up in the Fallsgrove area in Rockville almost 20 years ago, due to rapid development of their habitats further north. But I've never seen or heard one in Bethesda until last year.
I've also detected the odor of skunks twice in the Spring Valley area of NW DC in the last month. What a nightmare it will be if they start propagating in our area, especially for the many pet owners whose dogs and cats will get sprayed. All this housing the County cartel and their friends in the media keep claiming we haven't built actually has been built since 2022, and it's driving more and more rural creatures into our urban areas.
*since 2002,
Don't wonderwhere their den leader is, just leave them alone and don't poison rats or other critters. Foxes are gorgeous wildlife and are more afraid of you than you are of them.
@8:29AM YOU need to LEARN to be kind and appreciate Squirrels... Not just the animals if your own choosing. I've liked several of your previous postings with you tag line of "learning", but now you've just pissed me off.
I've seen these foxes in Chevy Chase near Geico Headquarters
8:25 I used to like squirrels until they moved into my house and began to eat it. I appreciate rats too, but don't want them in my basement.
I am happy for the balance of nature. Especially hawks keeping eye on that said roof.
Learning
Robert, on the coyote issue, I had one in my back yard maybe 10 years ago as well. They are definitely around no doubt and are wicked smart animals. The food chain would suggest they'd eat a fox but in my experience, prefer the bunnies which are many in this area. Interesting, I haven't seen many bunnies lately. Hmm!
@8:29 You still have A LOT to learn.
Why does the person who posted @ 8:29 need to learn anything? Hawks and fox will eat squirrels. So what? That's the natural order. You realize a lot of people shoot and eat them too. Do they need to learn anything as well? No, because they hunt them responsibly and eat their kill as food.
lots of foxes in the area around Whitman HS too
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