Fox Killed in Sea Isle City

By Donald Wittkowski The state wildlife department killed a fox in Sea Isle City on Friday, but it was not immediately clear whether it was the mother fox or her pup originally mistaken for coyotes after they were spotted roaming the beaches weeks ago, a city official said. Authorities have been attempting to catch the mother and pup and take them to a wildlife rehabilitation center, but the animals have eluded capture. “Foxes are very, very clever,” Sea Isle spokeswoman Katherine Custer said. “They are very smart animals. Sly like a fox – that expression has evolved for a reason.” However, one fox was killed by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife on Friday, Custer said. She did not have any other details. Custer referred questions to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s press office. Larry Hajna, a DEP spokesman in Trenton, could not confirm that a fox was killed in Sea Isle by a state wildlife official. It is not yet known whether the dead fox was either the mother or her pup. Authorities set traps weeks ago to catch the animals because it is believed they are suffering from mange, a skin disease caused by parasites. Authorities want to capture the animals so they can be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center for treatment. Sightings of the mother and pup originally generated false reports that they were coyotes. Sea Isle officials responded by issuing a statement on Aug. 7 assuring the public that the animals were foxes and there was no cause for alarm. “The fox is part of the local eco-system and a natural inhabitant of New Jersey’s barrier islands,” the statement said. “The fox is a member of the canine family and poses much less of a threat to humans than a coyote; therefore, there is no cause for alarm from the public.” In the meantime, there have been additional sightings of foxes on the beaches between 17^th and 20^th streets and in the north end of Sea Isle near Strathmere, Custer said. Custer also noted there have been reports that people have been feeding the foxes, making it more difficult for authorities to capture the animals. “That, of course, is simply not something we want people to do,” she said. “That is counterproductive to attempts to catch the foxes.” Custer urged anyone who sees people feeding the foxes to call Sea Isle police. City officials also want the public to stay away from any fox traps they may see. Any fox sightings can be reported to the Sea Isle City Police Department at (609) 263-4311.