A Hampton Lane resident photographed and reported a mangy fox that appeared on her property Monday morning, police say.
Photo of a fox that appears to have mange, taken March 31 on Hampton Lane. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Animal Control unit
Residents concerned about animals that frequently appear on their properties (such as this fox) that have mange—a highly contagious, treatable skin disease—must work with their vets in order to try and get medication to the animal itself that could help, according to New Canaan Police Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt (more on that below).
Other news out of Animal Control: As happened last week, another pair of coyotes appeared in town, this time on March 28 on Laurel Road.
“It’s interesting to see quite a few coyotes still in pairs,” Kleinschmitt said. The animals mate for life, and around this time of year they den, so that lone males generally are seen out and about, gathering food for the females who have given birth.
NewCanaanite.com caught up with Kleinschmitt near the woods between Lapham Road and Route 106—where coyotes are known to den—to get some information for residents on the animals:
Our updated interactive map plotting coyote sightings is below.
Back to mange for a moment.
Kleinschmitt said the dog that had been left last week in a crate outside CVS downtown remains under the care of New Canaan Veterinary Hospital.
“It has mange very badly, is five to six months old and will be held there until it medically is able to be adopted out,” Kleinschmitt said.
Here's another photo of a fox that appears to have mange, taken March 31 on Hampton Lane. Photo courtesy of the New Canaan Police Animal Control unit
She said that though Animal Control is not involved in rehabbing wildlife, that what a resident working with a vet may do is put a pill that treats mange in some food for a passing animal such as a fox or coyote.
Part of the reason to do that is that mange is contagious, for example, to dogs or cats who may roll in dead skin cells on the ground. Residents should watch their own pets and if they appear to be itchy and scratching, take the animals to a vet, Kleinschmitt said.