Wow, that is cool. I don't see the photos or links you mentioned though. I'm not a fox expert, but they are not uncommon here--just seldom seen. Healthy foxes are not generally a threat to people. Dawn and dusk are the usual feeding times, but I wonder if your animal is raising young nearby--they will forage more during the day then, due to greater dietary demands. The drought may have lowered the amount of natural prey and other food items available, or it may have just learned to scrounge in an urban setting. They are excellent climbers.

The best fox sightings I've had were during a late return from a hike at Red Rock Canyon near Las Vegas. The sun had set and it was near closing time. There were more than a dozen foxes that showed up to scrounge for scraps around the picnic tables near the Willow Springs Picnic Area.

Just make a little noise. It doesn't want to get close to you any more than you want to get close to it when you are outside.

We've moved to far Northern California and I'm thrilled that we get gray foxes here, though I've not seen one yet, my son did a couple of weeks ago when pulling into the drive at night.

Where are these pictures you speak of? ;)