A fox runs across the South Lawn of the White House before the return of U.S. President Barack Obama after his daytrip to Michigan February 7, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

It’s not a secret that we here at DCist are very big fans of foxes. So we’re relieved to hear, via the Wall Street Journal, that White House officials never considered shooting the fox who made 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue his home during the shutdown, even though he tripped some alarms.

Instead, the crew that tends the grounds at the White House spent hours plotting to lure him into the traps with rotting hunks of chicken, so they could relocate him some 3 miles south to a park along the Potomac River.

“We don’t mind that he passes through, but we don’t want him to stay,” said Dale Haney, the superintendent of the White House grounds, who has worked in the 18-acre park since 1972. “No overnight guests.”

Not sure why the chicken had to be rotting, but OK!

It’s unknown how many foxes live in D.C., but they’ve been spotted near the Capitol, in the surrounding neighborhoods, on the National Mall and in Hains Point.