Sick Fox Seen in La Grange, Put Down in LG Park

Several people reported seeing a sick fox walking around La Grange Sept. 12 and 13 on Ashland, near the church at Hillgrove Avenue about 2 p.m. 

An animal control responder who found the fox told police it had mange—scabies—and would need to be put down. The responder also told police the fox had become blind and could potentially bite someone. Police said callers were concerned about the fox biting children, or anyone else, walking in the area. 

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The fox got away from the responder, who had forgotten his pellet gun when he tried to find it. 

The fox was soon found about 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Catherine and Richmond avenues in La Grange Park. Police said they were able to catch it and put it down.

A Cook County Forest Preserve newsletter article from 1947 described red foxes as the “best-loved and most hated, wisest, smelliest, daintiest, thinnest, sleekest, most flea-bitten and controversial animal in America.”

La Grange Patch readers in March shared 17 sightings of red foxes in the area, including a fox family living under a home in the 4100 block of Howard in Western Springs.

Here's a refresher from that article, written by Lauren Williamson:

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a sarcoptic mange epidemic in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s decimated the red fox population.

Although the epidemic abated, foxes never rebounded because of the coyote population expansion during recent decades. Coyotes are a direct competitor for food that’s just as willing to make a fox the meal.

Foxes pose virtually no safety threat to humans unless they’re rabid or you try to pick them up, according to the Humane Society. Like any frightened animal with good sense, it could bite you if you grab at it.

Where are you seeing foxes in the area? Tell us in the comments, and we'll start a new map of recent sightings.