Though the temperatures are still too brisk for it to truly feel like spring, there's no denying that the season has in fact begun. One trademark sign of spring; babies. 

For one small family in Austintown, a yard near New Road has become home. But it isn't your typical family, it's a young fox family. 

The mother fox and her kits were spotted by a 21 News viewer playing in the grass. 

While there may be something undeniably cute about baby animals frolicking through the grass, the sight of baby foxes or animal movement in general during the spring isn't unusual. 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the fox population in Mahoning County is high, and that foxes typically enjoy towns and suburban areas because of the easy hunting possibilities. 

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, foxes, which typically mate with only one partner, usually give birth between February and April. 

Approximately four to five weeks later, the babies, called kits, will emerge from the den and begin learning how to hunt from their parents. 

Females that need to dig their own dens from scratch usually do so by selecting an area of loose, sandy soil with a southern exposure. Most fox dens are about four feet below ground. 

The fox family will only stay together for several months, by fall the family unit will break up, the kits will be mature enough to go on their own, and their parents split and live independently until the start of the next breeding season.

As for their hunting habits, ODNR says foxes typically eat mice, rats, rabbits, groundhogs, and other small mammals; also birds, fruits, and some grasses. 

Red foxes are nocturnal creatures, meaning that they are most active at night, feeding and moving from place to place. 

However, seeing foxes out during the daytime isn't a cause for concern. 

The Humane Society of the United States says that foxes have a natural fear of humans and will typically run away as soon as they sense your presence. 

"If not, the fox has probably learned to associate people with food (likely because someone has been feeding them), and may exhibit a boldness or even approach you."

The Humane Society offers the following facts about foxes:

  • Foxes are not dangerous to humans, except when they are rabid (which is very rare) or when they are captured and handled. Even then, a fox's natural tendency is to flee rather than fight.
  • Foxes may prey on small pets or livestock (such as rabbits, guinea pigs or chickens), so pets should be kept indoors or housed in sturdy structures.
  • Foxes will also eat various fruits, but they usually do not bother garden vegetables.
  • Sometimes foxes are blamed for damage they did not cause, such as when they are spotted eating from spilled trash when neighborhood dogs or other animals were responsible for the overturned trashcan.

As for household pets, The Humane Society says that foxes are typically not a danger to cats or dogs. 

Part of their website reads, 

"A typical adult cat is almost the same size as a fox and has a well-deserved reputation for self-defense, so foxes are generally not interested in taking such cats on. Kittens and very small (less than five pounds) adult cats, however, could be prey for a fox. The best way to avoid encounters between foxes and cats is to keep your cats indoors—a practice that will keep your cats safe from other hazards as well, such as traffic, disease and fights, to mention only a few."

With regards to dogs, the Humane Society says larger dogs will not be bothered by a fox unless they are threatening the babies. Smaller dogs, on the other hand, could become vulnerable to foxes and should be monitored closely when outside. 

Experts suggest leaving the foxes alone and avoiding feeding them- unless they become a nuisance, in which case the Humane Society and ODNR list advice on how to remove them from your property.