The sad tale of a fox, kidnapped from her fox family, raised with humans and domestic animals, and then dumped when she became inconvenient. Wild animals should be left wild, that is their joy, and our appreciation should stop at observation, not needless intervention or possession. As wildlife rehabilitators we exist to bring wild animals to the point where they can return to their true state. We should not have to undo damage caused by interfering and selfish humans. But sometimes that's what we have to do.
This pretty little lady fox was brought to me after the finders found her injured in their suburban neighborhood.
She had a small cut on her leg, a wound on her head and blood in her ear.
Due to her subdued nature, I thought she had been hit by a car and sustained head trauma, maybe attacked by a dog, or suffering from distemper or worse, rabies.
She was almost friendly, and that made me very suspicious. My suspicions were confirmed when we went to the vet today.
My vet examined her and remarked on how calm she was around people, being held, examined, having her temperature taken.
Then the vet noticed her teeth- they showed damage and wearing consistent with long term chewing on stainless steel bars on a cage. This fox had been kept as a pet. In a cage.
Her fecal was negative for any parasites leading us to believe she had never been outside, and her poor muscle tone showed she had probably never played or exercised.
What kind of life did her captors think she deserved to lead? Not one of freedom, of foxy fun like playing with her siblings, nursing on Mom and enjoying the comfort of a familiar family.
Not a life of learning what’s nice to eat, what’s fun to dig in or toss around. No streams with crayfish or logs with mushrooms, or root balls with tasty grubs or sweet fallen fruit.
She’s never run as fast as she can, tumbled and rolled around in the grass, climbed trees and rocks and hills.
Since being taken from Mom, she’s always been with strangers, eating strange food, and being expected to fit within the standards of a typical pet.
Not a real life at all. That’s what they offered her.
For now she’s safe, comfortable, and getting a little exercise wandering the rehab room. She will be quarantined for 14 days in case she does have rabies, but that’s doubtful.
She is a sad, scared little girl. She has enjoyed having mice for dinner two nights in a row and all the cat crunchies and fresh water she wants, along with a soft bed and a clean cage.
She may never be able to be released because someone selfishly took a wild animal away from its family and raised it until it was no longer fun. She may always have to be kept captive.
Red foxes only live about 3 to 4 years and I hope I can give her a chance to live most of that back in nature, but it won’t be easy.
No mama taught her how to hunt, or avoid humans, or find the foods foxes like to eat. I can only help her learn on her own, give her opportunities to develop her innate skills. I can’t teach her how to be a fox.
