Watch: Foxes Play, Chase In Cortlandt Neighbor's Yard

CORTLANDT, NY — Christmas is a time for love and joy, and that's true for foxes too.

In Cortlandt, two red-colored foxes spent the holiday running and playing in a resident's back yard, doorbell video on the Neighbor's app showed. The playful pair dashed and darted, chasing each other for more than an hour.

Some pet-owners may feel uneasy about foxes playing nearby, but animal experts say they're usually best left to their own devices. While foxes can carry rabies, they typically avoid humans, though the allure of a tasty snack — such as pet food and unsecured garbage — can lead to a brief visit.

Unless they're rabid — which is very rare — or captured, foxes are not considered dangerous to humans. That being said, foxes can prey on small pets or livestock, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens. That means pets should be kept indoors or housed in sturdy structures.

A typical adult cat is nearly the same size as a fox and has a "well-deserved reputation for self-defense," the humane society said. As such, foxes typically leave full-grown felines alone, unless they're kittens or under five pounds.

Most dogs are not at risk of a fox attack unless they have threatened its kits. Miniature dogs are "especially vulnerable to harm" from predators, though, including foxes.

Ring, the owner of the Neighbors app, is a Patch advertiser. Patch received no compensation for this article.