DEAR SUN SPOTS: Please help me to get the word out to people to keep their pets in at night.

We live in the Goff Street area of Auburn and in the past year have seen the number of stray cats in our vicinity decline. We used to see several. Now we see one. But now we think we know why.

For the past month or so, my boyfriend and I have seen what appears to be a gray fox either in the woods next to our apartment, or running down Goff or Hampshire streets. On several occasions it has entered the Chestnut Street park via the Hampshire Street side. We used to see it around 2 or 3 a.m., but lately it has shown up as early as midnight.

Two nights ago it ran past our house carrying a small animal and headed out toward Gamage Avenue, only to return within half an hour, so we wonder if it has a den nearby. I am cringing at the thought that it may catch a cat in front of our house.

We know that foxes are predators, and I believe that the gray fox can climb trees.

We are wondering if anyone else has seen it, and if it is indeed a gray fox. Do you know, or could find out who we might contact about this. It is a beautiful animal, but so are the cats. Are they safe?

Thanks for anything you can tell us. We didn’t know who we should contact, but we are afraid for the neighborhood cats.

Thank you, Sun Spots, for all you do. — E.R., Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots sympathizes with your concern for local cats. She lives in the woods and predators abound, so she keeps her four felines on a strict schedule. They go out in the morning two hours after dawn and come in every evening two hours before sunset. As your letter shows, even if you live in the city, leaving your cats out at night greatly increases their risk of becoming prey (not to mention being hit by a car or getting in fights with other cats).

Leaving your cats out all night also means they can do more damage to other wildlife. Cats are predators, too. If you have ever seen one “play” with a cute little chipmunk or a beautiful bird until it dies, that becomes apparent. Because of cats’ deleterious effect on songbird populations, some experts advocate keeping them in all the time. (Sun Spots limits her cats’ hunting by belling and “bibbing” them; visit www.catgoods.com for more information.)

As people have spread out from city centers, foxes and other wild animals have gotten more adept at living with humans. Last year, Sun Journal photographer Russ Dillingham shot a terrific video of fox kits playing in a field off Turner Street in Auburn (visit sunjournal.com/foxfrolic). They are really cute, and so close to the road you can hear the traffic in the video.

Sun Spots doesn’t think you have anything to fear for humans. As long as the fox isn’t rabid, it will avoid people. If it does begin approaching people, you can call 1-800-228-0857 to have a Maine Game Warden dispatched.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the letters about the Barkerville School (June 11 and 22). As a small child I too went to that school. My sisters Rita and Irene and brothers Bob and Bert attended also. Others I remember are Carmille, Armand and Harold Joseph; also Herbert Page and his sisters; Jack, Sally and Helen Fisher; Roger and Lorette Albert; and Becky Lemay.

I cannot recall others, as I am 79 years old. I have very fond members of Stetson Store on the corner of Maine and King avenues and Nadeau’s barber shop.

Thanks to Brend Pierce and Beverly (Giguere) Turner for renewing my memories. As a young child, I lived on King Avenue. It would make my day if someone would submit a photo of that school. Thank you so much. — Roger Moreau

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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