Officials in Merrick say red foxes have taken up residence at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve.

Deyla Calvache, a resident of Merrick, says she's seen five of them -- two adults and three young ones.

Officials say they get about 10 to 15 calls a month reporting red fox sightings. They say the foxes are common on Long Island, especially in Suffolk.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, foxes are nocturnal and most visible in the morning or evening. Officials there say the foxes likely migrated to Nassau from other parts of Long Island.

Officials say residents should keep their distance from the animals, even though foxes aren't generally a threat to humans.

"We certainly discourage anybody from trying to feed them," says Chip Hamilton, of the state's Department of Environmental Conservation. "We don't want them to become too comfortable with people."