ENR warns of 'bold' fox
Creature approaching villagers could mean its being fed, says superintendent
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, February 5, 2015
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An official with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is again warning residents of Fort Simpson to be vigilant of wildlife.
This time ENR Superintendent
for the Deh Cho
region Carl Lafferty said there
is a fox that has been coming
close to residents in the village,
including a recent attempt to
get in a vehicle with someone
near the Pandaville Restaurant.
"The fox is getting pretty
bold," Lafferty told Deh Cho
Drum on Jan. 26.
Lafferty said this indicates
to him the animal is being fed
by someone in the village, a
practice he said no one should
undertake.
If someone has been leaving
food out for the fox, he
hopes they will stop.
He's worried the animal
coming so close to people
could lead to someone, especially
a child, getting bitten.
The fox has been spotted
at night, usually coming out
around 10 p.m. to wander the
village.
The warning comes after
a wolf was shot by an RCMP
officer in the village last
month. The wolf had been
sighted numerous times
around the community and
prompted numerous calls to
village hall and ENR.
Though Lafferty initially
said after the animal was
killed that two more wolves
had been spotted, he has since
confirmed those sighted animals
were actually dogs.
He said people should still
be careful since wolves are
known to be on the outskirts
of the community.