Foxes settle in Mt. Prospect neighborhood

I had foxes living in my backyard for 2 years about 5 years ago. They made a lot less mess than some neighbors dogs do. They'd play & sun in the yard. They's even walk up on the deck and look in the window. They were replaced by coyotes for the next few years. The coyotes were no problem. They even used the front steps to get to the back yard. The cougar would be another story, but foxes and coyotes don't hurt anything.

Doesn't matter if they are considered dangerous or not. Put the Chicago police on the case. They have recent experience with wild animals.

Geneva, IL has had foxes living in town for many years. They are loved by everyone who lives there. I lived there for ten years and enjoyed having them in my neighborhood and yard. Never caused any trouble.

Sounds like a plan for the rabbit problem in Grant Park. Hang out a sign that says "Welcome Foxes".

We had a fox in our neighborhood a couple of years back and our rabbit and squirrel problems went away. Someone in the neighborhood called animal control and the dastardly squirrels and rabbits came back.

I miss our squirrel and rabbit enforcement officer.

First a "cougar" in Wilmette, now "foxes" in Mt. Prospect. Now that we're given a choice, I'm leaning towards the 'burbs...

That should have read "western" burbs!

My sister, in Joliet, has had a mother with 8 little ones in her back yard for a couple of months now. They enjoy watching them. They have taken a lot of pictures. They live on a corner lot and people walk by and stop to watch the foxes. They haven't caused a problem in my sisters neighborhood, except for the hole dug under her shed.

Wait untill the first pet or baby is attacked. The "cuteness" will disapear and the foxes will be relocated.

Just call the city boys in blue. They are experts in wild animal control. They'll just send a few boys and a truck load of ammo and corner them in the yard. The rest of the story will mimic the cougar slaughter.

I am pretty let down that this article appears so negative. I have received numerous calls and emails asking why I hate the foxes so much. It was even quoted on the radio this morning, I was told. Every time I spoke with Ms. Ortiz, she was very positive and enthusiastic about the animals and the story. Perhaps the issue with the Chicago cougar killing made her take this negative angle? This article makes it sound like I am annoyed with the foxes and I want them out, which is not the case. I have seen lots of animals in my yard before. If I had known that this article would be so negative, I would not have agreed to be interviewed for it, nor would I have spent so much of my time sending and sharing information I researched on red foxes. I certainly don't like to pick up their carnage, and yes, we need to watch our kids and dogs, but in no way do I want the foxes harmed, and I'm not rallying the neighbors to have them removed. I was responding to 'what if they bit someone' and 'what is it like picking up dead bones and flesh'- questions that Ms. Ortiz was asking. We also never discussed the 'trying of patience' nor 'trashing the neighborhood'- clever quips, by the way. My family and neighbors love watching them play and we like that they are helping to keep the rabbit population in check. They have several dens in this neighborhood (as foxes do) and when they are here, they are so fun to watch. The Trib certainly has every right to angle a story to grab readers' attention however they see fit, however, please know my intent was to share a cute photo of the fox family, share that nature is alive and well in the burbs, and share information about foxes and their behaviors, not to be portrayed as Elmer Fudd. I'll know better next time...

Cougars and Foxes and Stroger...Oh my!