Video by Mary Osborne of two foxes catching a mouse along the St. Clair River near the River Crab restaurant. Mary Osborne
It's hard not to notice the recent increase of fox sightings on local social media pages at the beach.
To the delight of many users and photographers, pictures of foxes sitting on the beach or walking through the snow have been greeted with delight, despite the area being part of the natural habitat for the animal.
There are two types of foxes found on the Eastern Shore and in Delaware — the red fox and the gray fox. Normally, foxes are found in open areas, including the beach.
"I have seen fox tracks in the dunes countless times," said Harry Spiker, game mammal section leader for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
According to experts, the sighting of a fox — particularity the red fox, the most common fox breed in Maryland — on the beach isn't that uncommon.
Foxes are most often seen along the dunes, Spiker said, where they hunt and keep their dens.
"It's pretty normal," Spiker said. "Normally, they are pretty nocturnal."
There isn't a habitat in Maryland where it wouldn't be uncommon to see a fox, he added.
But that doesn't mean seeing one doesn't take someone by surprise.
Steven Roth, of New Oxford, Pennsylvania, was in Ocean City for the Seaside 10 Mile Run/5K in late October.
He was visiting friends at their condo on 83rd Street. His friend was surf fishing, and a fox could be seen staring intently at his friend casting a line into the ocean, Roth said.
He took his camera and was able to get photos of the fox. The next day, he was able to get a photo of the fox with another fox playing in the dunes.
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"I was always under the impression that if you see a fox in the daylight, it isn't a good thing because that meant they have rabies, but seeing this fox was like seeing a dog on the beach," he said. "He was observing, and I didn't see anything wrong with him and the other fox."
Sandy dunes provide a great area for fox dens and the "scrubby" habitat associated with the Delaware beaches is utilized by many of foxes' favorite prey species, said Jesse Baird, the furbearer biologist for the Division of Fish and Wildlife for Delaware.
Foxes may be encountered on more heavily populated beaches because they are in search of food, he added.
"Foxes are well adapted to urban environments and can often be found in close proximity to humans," he said. "Once foxes become accustomed to humans they will often take greater risks to find an easy meal."
The animals are more active during the night, but they can also be seen during the early morning and evening hours.
They also can be encountered during any time of day, Baird said.
"Foxes tend to be most active during the breeding season, which typically occurs during March and April," he added. "In spring 'kits' (young foxes) become more active and begin exploring the world around their den."
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Seeing more foxes in one area is a sign of a productive den, Spiker said.
For the operator of the Ocean City Cool Facebook group Robert Banach, though, this year isn't too different than other years.
"Only real difference I see from the last four years that I've lived here is the two foxes that have taken up residence under the Jolly Roger Pier," he said. "They showed up in early November, and I'm sure they'll be long gone when there are more people coming around, if not sooner if foraging is not plentiful enough and the fishermen stop throwing them their leftovers."
Foxes are "opportunistic" feeders, Baird said, and can take pet food or food scraps. Homeowners should take steps to prevent human-wildlife conflicts by cleaning up food or trash if a fox begins to take food.
If a fox starts to become a nuisance, homeowners can contact a licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator to have the animal removed, however, there is often a fee associated with this work.
In Delaware, there has only been one report of a fox on the beach, Baird said, however, he added that it is not uncommon.
"We do not track fox sightings so the single report is just anecdotal, and certainly more foxes have used the beaches but were not reported," he said.
All wildlife should be observed from a distance, he added, even though the fox many appear to be friendly, but they can be dangerous to people and pets.
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People should also avoid animals that appear to be unhealthy, he said, and if someone is bitten they should seek medical attention and was the affected area.
Pets that have bite marks from unknown sources should immediately be taken to the vet, he added.
Delaware has seen its share of rabid animals this winter.
In December, a man in the King's Creek community was bitten by a raccoon while hanging up Christmas lights. That raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Earlier in January, another person near Angola was bitten by a rabid raccoon after it entered the person's house through a pet door.
If someone encounters a healthy fox on the beach, Spiker said to give it space like any other wild animal. If a fox does appear to be rabid, call animal control.
"Give them space, don't corner them, give them an escape route and enjoy the siting," he said.
On Twitter @hughesg19