Sick Fox roaming area
He or she is a red fox that has mange. She has been ranging from the pond by Chatham Circle to Reeds Pond near Beechwood Rd. She is looking for food and trying to find comfort. The mites on the skin have taken over and cause her to itch and scratch until her fur falls out and the skin is infected. It is a slow death for the animal. If I could capture her I would have a veterinarian euthanize her to relieve her of this miserable disease. Right now she is still very aware of her surroundings and if she feels threatened her adrenaline kicks in and she is off like a shot. We are receiving lots of sightings as she moves through neighborhoods. She is avoiding people but taking advantage of spilt bird seed (bring the bird feeders in for the summer). As long as she keeps moving I can't capture her, but if
she continues to go down hill in her health and is laying curled up somewhere I might be able to sneak up and capture her. If she is still alert she won't let me get that close. Which also means no kids can approach her and she is avoiding people and pets. Without her fur coat she can not regulate her temperature and a cold wet spell could cause hypothermia. She may just go into the woods to die, but I will continue to monitor her activity.
Turtles are out laying eggs
The end of May and beginning of June the turtles come out of the ponds to lay their eggs. They are crossing roads and heading up hill to find a sandy place to dig a hole. Sometimes that is in peoples yards or gardens. Snapping turtles in particular and jump and snap if they feel threatened so it is good to keep your distance and wait for them to leave. Since they are carrying their house with them they need to take rest breaks as the house (shell) weights more once they are out of water. Sometimes that rest break is in the middle of the road.
If you do want to help a turtle cross the road, first make sure you are safe! Then using a broom or shovel you can get behind them and push them in the direction they are heading. Many people pick them up and bring them back to water only to have them climb back out into the road as that was the direction they want to go in.
If they are in the yard, don't worry, they will soon be gone back into the ponds if you wait a day.
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Sue Webb
Wellesley Animal Control
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