Have you seen foxes in your neighborhood?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Officials said fox sightings are up across the Carolinas.

"They're just walking around, hanging out," Dilworth resident Ellis Small said. "We think that they live behind the houses."

Officials say pup-rearing season is peaking, so through July it won't be unusual to see them, day or night, in your neighborhood.

Biff Bracy said he saw one in his Dilworth neighborhood Monday night.

"I was quite surprised when I saw it," Bracy said. "It looked like a baby fox or a medium size fox. It was more interesting than really threatening at all."

Recently, a fox found in Mint Hill tested positive for rabies.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care and Control officials said they caught two foxes that appeared to possibly be sick in the Dilworth neighborhood.

Often times, though, they're not a threat.

"Seeing a fox in the daytime doesn't mean it’s rabid or have rabies," said Sgt. William Laton, with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. "If an animal is sick, it will display some type of unique behavior."

Laton said loud noises usually scare them off.

Also, Laton said to keep food indoors, don't feed them and give them space.

"We want to make sure that the wild animals do stay wild," Laton said.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group