The latest menaces at the Jersey Shore? Rabbits, mangy foxes, and hungry seagulls

What do a mother fox, her cub, an explosion of rabbits, aggressive seagulls, and shoobies have in common?

They all like the Jersey Shore, but for those who live near the beach, these critters can be a nuisance.

The latest concerns are the spindly mother fox and her mangy pup seen wandering along the dunes in recent days in Sea Isle City. At first, sightseers thought they spotted coyotes.

"In recent days, there have been false reports of coyote appearing on Sea Isle City's beaches," said a news release issued by Sea Isle. "Local animal control authorities have positively identified these animals to be foxes — not coyote.

"The fox is part of the local ecosystem and a natural inhabitant of New Jersey's barrier islands. The fox is a member of the canine family and poses much less of a threat to humans than coyote (similar to an average dog); therefore there is no cause for alarm from the public."

The pup is missing some fur and likely has the painful skin disease mange, which is caused by mites that attack beneath the skin. A video of the adult fox posted on social media sites also shows her appearing sick. Her beautiful red fur has been replaced with wiry brown hair, and her bushy tail has dwindled to look more like that of a opossum.

Mange isn't a threat to humans, or to other animals that don't come in close contact with the foxes.

Wildlife authorities are trying to catch the foxes, but that may be tough, since there's plenty of food for them — whether they're hunting smaller animals, foraging through trash, or taking handouts from people, said Suzanne Fenton, president of Wildlife Aid. Fenton said people shouldn't feed the sick animals, so they can be caught more easily.

If the foxes are caught in traps set beside the dunes, Fenton said they'll be brought to her nonprofit facility. She will treat the pup if it can be released to a safe area. However, Fenton is concerned about the video she has seen of the older fox.

"These poor guys are suffering horribly," Fenton said. Mange causes severe skin irritation, itches relentlessly, and ultimately results in death. "It's a horrible outbreak we're going through."

If they can't be treated and properly released, the animals will have to be put down, she said.

"Often that is a kinder solution than living a horrible, painful life."

But thinning the fox population, as well as the populations of other wild animals such as raccoons, could contribute to the explosion of rabbits that have been reportedly eating perfectly planted flowers and manicured lawns in Ventnor and Margate. In Longport, local officials last year hired an animal control officer, instead of foxes, to catch the rabbits and relocate them to wooded areas away from the water.

But the town's mayor, Nicholas Russo, lifted the bounty on bunnies less than a month after the relocation operation had been launched. Russo, who couldn't be reached for comment, faced protesters, including his own daughter, who joined the bunny revolution.

"Save the bunnies" posters began popping up, and those concerned about moving the rabbits won out over those trying to save their flowers, said Longport Commissioner Daniel Lawler on Tuesday. Fewer than a dozen rabbits were moved in those weeks. Lawler understood the gardeners' concerns, having seen his own tomato plants devoured.

"All we wanted to do is move them off the island and put them over in a wooded area," Lawler said. "We didn't want to hurt them." Instead, he installed higher fencing around the garden. His crops this year are bountiful, and he's seeing fewer rabbits.

Ocean City also has a wildlife problem: Rogue seagulls are stealing food. Last year, the city threatened to issue stiff fines to anyone feeding the gulls, which will swoop by the dozens for a single slice of bread. At the same time, the city invested in public service announcements and signs asking seagull feeders to abstain from the practice. No fines have been issued, said Ocean City spokesman Doug Bergen.

"The seagulls are still here, and they like to pilfer food from the boardwalk, strollers, and from beach-goers," Bergen said Tuesday. "The seagulls are opportunists."

Rabbits aren't a problem in Ocean City. But, Bergen said, there are several healthy dens of red foxes.

And as for the shoobies that arrive by the masses each summer? Only those without beach badges can be chased from the Jersey Shore.