8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the newspaper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@durhamregion.com facebook.com/newsdurham @newsdurham WHO WE ARE Vice President Dana Robbins Regional General Manager Anne Beswick Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Mike Lacey Director of Advertising Tanya Pacheco Director Distribution Jason Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Durham Advisory Council Dan Carter; Esther Enyolu; Jake Farr; Dr. Vidal Chavannes; Cynthia Davis; Elaine Popp/Don Lovisa; John Henry; Sue McGovern; Kerri King; Steve Yamada; Kelly LaRocca; Peter Bethlenfalvy; Dr. Steven Murphy; Norah Marsh; Tracy Paterson; Chris Darling; Christina Curry CONTACT US This Week Phone: 905- 579-4407 Newsroom: 905-215-0462 Sales: 905-215-0424 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-579-2238 Web: www.durhamregion.com Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at durhamregion.com Delivery For all delivery inquiries, call 905-579-4407 or visit the Contact Us page on durhamregion.com. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT DURHAMREGION.COM What a beauty, eh? Everyone in the neighbourhood agrees that "our" red fox, in his plush winter coat, is a stunner. How could any vixen resist him? He's been a common fixture since summer, passing through on his hunting rounds, seeming as fearless and comfortable around people as we've become with him. Everyone I talk to has a story to tell about "Foxxy" slipping by their carport, trotting through the yard or just sitting in the sun, watching the world go by. My husband saw him easily scamper up a jumbled heap of logs beside our shed, apparently sniffing for mice, a favourite food. The number of small rodents about this year, perhaps due to last year's bumper crop of white pine cones, might be what's keeping our fox well fed. Every time he wandered by our garden this fall I hoped he'd do that acrobatic fox leap and plant his paws on one of the meadow voles chewing my carrots and beets. Red foxes are omnivores, interested in fruit, acorns, insects, carrion ... whatever the season provides. My friend Dianne Pazaratz, dropping over one day, braked and watched in delight while our fox ate a fallen apple in the middle of the laneway, totally ignoring her and her vehicle. Days later, she came for a walk with her son, hoping for another sighting. Dave loves all wildlife, especially mammals, and was ready with his cellphone when they lucked out and met up with their quarry. Sinking to his knees, he captured a video of Mr. Fox trotting toward them, then pausing, ears pricked, when he caught sight of his admirers. This snap from the video captures the health, intelligence and vitality of this particular canine, out on a tour of his territory, which he maintains by scent marking. They're usually solitary, except when paired up to raise pups in spring. The most widespread mammals in the world, after humans, red foxes are native throughout Northern Hemisphere mainlands, but were unfortunately introduced, deliberately or by chance, on many islands, with grim results for local wildlife. The havoc they played on wombats, rock-wallabies and possums across Australia is legendary, and officials in Tasmania have gone all-out to eradicate foxes that snuck into Tasmania just two decades ago. Though very welcome in my neighbourhood, our red fox hasn't been seen for a couple of weeks now, that I've heard of. Perhaps, being largely nocturnal anyway, he's hunting by night. Muddy prints across our porch one rainy morning suggest he might have been chasing a plump vole from the flower bed. Nature queries: mcarney1490@gmail.com or 905-725-2116. Metroland columnist Margaret Carney finds so much to discover and marvel at exploring the great outdoors. 'FOXXY' TURNING HEADS IN WHITBY MARGARET CARNEY Column Some people in Margaret Carney's Whitby neighbourhood affectionately think of this red fox as "theirs" and have dubbed him "Foxxy." She notes: "This snap from the video captures the health, intelligence and vitality of this particular canine, out on a tour of his territory, which he maintains by scent marking." Dave Pazaratz photo OUR 'FOXXY' FOX STREET PARKING CREATES 'DANGEROUS SITUATION' To the editor: Re: North Oshawa Neighbourhood Gets Speed Reduced. The concern goes beyond fast vehicles and the need to have speed limits lowered. The residents of Greenhill Avenue living close to Harmony Road are the very concern themselves. About a dozen vehicles are parked on both sides of the street throughout the day and overnight on the hill leading to Harmony Road. I have personally witnessed many near collisions as cars in both directions attempt to navigate around car-lined streets. It is a very dangerous situation when both the city's salt trucks and plows were unable to properly clear the street following the first snowfall. Oshawa council needs to better enforce the city's own parking bylaws to alleviate the greatest concern -- on-street parking. BRIAN BRADLEY, OSHAWA ONLY SERIOUS INJURY WILL PROMPT ACTION ON COYOTES To the editor: Re: A quick guide to Oshawa's coyote problem. I saw the article in the Durham newspaper and want you to know that it's almost or just as bad in Whitby. I have had the following incidents just myself. 1) Stare down with one while contemplating which house to run to if it charged at me ... finally ran into backyard. 2) Raced past me and other couples so fast that it startled us all. 3) One was on front lawn LETTERS & COMMENTARY SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT DURHAMREGION.COM and when exiting house, my daughter had to wait until it left before feeling safe to get in her car. 4) Had standoff with our pet with three neighbours out with umbrellas. 5) One was killing a rabbit outside our house on the sidewalk and ran off when he noticed us. 6) A neighbour posted a video of a coyote chasing a squirrel for a couple of blocks and jumping a fence to get to it. And these are unreported incidents! So if they are happening to me and mine, there must be more incidents ... we should be reporting all incidents no matter how small because nothing will be done until someone is seriously hurt! J.M. ANDERSON, WHITBY