Some unexpected new neighbors moved to Cushing Square about a month ago, and their welcome gift to Patti McTague and the rest of the neighborhood residents was rabbit body parts and guts.
According to residents, a handful of foxes have made their home in this Belmont neighborhood, concentrated around Bay State Road. Some neighbors dislike them, others adore them. Some remain neutral.
“Some of the neighbors are afraid to sit out in their backyard,” said McTague, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years. “To me, it’s unnerving to sit outside and have dinner at 6 p.m. and have foxes there.”
The fact of the matter is that foxes are harmless to humans and are an integral part of the natural ecosystem. According to Belmont Animal Control Officer Suzanne Trasavage, her department now receives a dozen or more calls per week about foxes in Belmont.
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Their presence around Bay State Road appears to stem from a once-vacant house on Common Street. While it was on the market, it stood vacant and a family of foxes moved in and started a family. When the house sold and the new human family moved in, the foxes apparently set out for new environs in the wider neighborhood.
“At the end of the day, they’re not a threat. They’re harmless,” Trasavage said. “I would put the reminder out that small dogs and cats are definitely [possible prey] for them, knowing that not only do we have foxes, but we have coyotes and other things.”
Trasavage said it’s essential to appreciate the “cool, beautiful animals” that inhabit the margins around Belmont homes. They aren’t going anywhere–it’s illegal to trap wildlife in Massachusetts.
That said, if the foxes begin to look unhealthy or behave strangely, residents should report that to her office, Trasavage said.
Trasavage estimates three or four kits, along with their parents, moved from Common Street to Hillcrest Road. She’s not sure where exactly their home base is now, but their presence remains the talk of the area.
“The biggest thing for people to understand is that because they live in an urban setting, they’re used to cars, people, and bikes,” Trasavage said. “They have a healthy fear of people, it’s just less than it would be in a more rural area.”
Jack Deignan, a 30-year resident of the neighborhood, lives across the street from McTague. He “loves” foxes but acknowledges they do sometimes leave the leftovers from their dinner behind.
The foxes mostly operate at dawn and dusk.
“It’s nature in action,” Deignan said. “There’re far too many rabbits. It’s just nature bringing nature back into balance.”
The foxes eat small mammals, such as rabbits, moles, rats, and mice. This summer, the rabbit population is booming.
“They just come right through the back yard and stare at you,” McTague said. “They’re very bold.”