An abandoned baby fox was rescued by a local resident of the Elephant and Castle after she saw him distressed, however despite the best efforts of the RSPCA the cub remains pack-less, writes Melina Block..
The RSPCA thanked the caring lady who came across the cub, who is believed to be around two months old.
However, they warned people not to pick up baby foxes unless they are in the middle of the road or an equally dangerous place, saying the mother fox is usually nearby.
The unnamed lady, who came to the across the cub alone and in a distressed state near a busy main road in Elephant and Castle earlier this month tried to reunite the him with his mother, before calling in the RSPCA. She put him in a cardboard box at a safe location nearby with food and water.
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paige Havlin, who attended the scene, said: “This fox cub was in a precarious position and could easily have perished without the help of this lady who followed correct advice from the start by leaving the cub in a cardboard box outside with food and water to see if his parent would take him.
“We tried again to reunite the cub and its mother the following evening but sadly without success.
“A fox we suspect was the mother visited the spot around six times and approached the cub, but was very skittish and while she ate the food we left out for her she did not take the cub.”
Neighbours confirmed that foxes were local visitors to the area, but Paige found nothing when searching local gardens for fox dens.
To protect the health of the baby fox he was taken South Essex Wildlife Hospital.
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Hospital staff are now caring for him among a group of fox cubs until he has built up the skills to survive alone and can be released back into the wild.
Paige added: “We are so grateful to the local resident who took time trying to help a fox cub that was clearly in distress.
“However, it is important to remember that not all wild animals need rescuing and are better off being left where they are and monitored for as long as possible.
“If anyone finds a fox cub on their own and their eyes are open the cub is probably fine and the parents are usually nearby.
“It is best to leave a supply of dog food and water and check again in 24 hours.
“If the cub is in immediate danger on a road then try to safely move the cub to a sheltered spot, but handling as little as possible.
“Generally, it is best that members of the public don’t handle or transport fox cubs as they can become aggressive when stressed or injured.”
If anyone finds a fox cub that is injured, sick or in immediate danger or has their eyes closed then call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
Caring for Wild Animals is not only humane (if you don’t Care for the Welfare of Animals* … what do you feel for, and about, the Humans?) but, in the case of foxes, sensible; they help keep the Rat Population under control.
And, of course, they wouldn’t be in town anyway; if Land Owners, their Game Keepers, and Farmers hadn’t killed-off most of the local Wild Life, and food source, over the years.
* See the article on The Starved To Death Dog; found on examination to have plastic waste in its stomach – probably desperate for something – anything – to eat.
Fined a few £pounds
Banned from keeping Animals – lucky animals
And … that’s it; end of punishment, end of story
Yet psychiatrists tell us that some animal torturers move on to people …