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Young Red fox rescued in Eureka Springs
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Orphan Gray fox kit grows up at Witter Wildlife refuge.
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Words For Wildlife
by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr
FOXY LADIES
I had pretty much decided that I was at full occupancy as far as taking in wayward animals. All my cages were full and my sleep time was really starting to suffer. The 3 fawns and 4 raccoon babies eat every 4 hours which means I only get to sleep 3 hours at a time, often getting only one or two three hour sleep sessions per night.
It was Friday night at 4 AM when I crawled into bed to try to salvage what was left of a good nights sleep... make that a poor nights sleep. I had just participated in my regular late night circus of wildlife care giving. When I enter the infirmary the fawns charge me looking for their bottles nibbling and sucking on any part of clothing or person they can find. (I wear a robe and pajamas to avoid injury) I fend off the four pound killer fawns and try to quickly mix their formula as the three raccoons “Larry, Mo, and Curly” begin a high wire act inside their cage chattering and screaming for attention as they hang upside down on the cage door fighting for first position to get their bottles. Of course all their noise wakes up the possums that immediately assume their Cujo impersonations. The cardinals and coyote provide vocal accompaniment which in turn wakes up my house dogs. Their barking gets the wolves outside howling and its still two hours before the sunrise. The only good news is that all this commotion generally shuts up the Whippoorwill that sings by my bedroom window all night long trying to steal what little sleep I can salvage.
The phone rang at two hours after the last act at 6:30 AM Saturday morning. Even in my sleep starved stupor I remembered I had promised myself I would turn down the next wildlife call referring them to another rehabilitator. Upon discovering it was the Eureka Springs Police Department referred to me by the Game and Fish Commission I decided it was not the time to turn down a request since the Game and Fish Commission issues my rehabilitation license.
I arrived at the police station an hour later to find a pathetic looking little red fox alone in the police garage. It had been picked up at the side of the road and was very disoriented. It responded well to treatment over the next week having apparently received a blow to the head, most likely struck by a car. About the time I was convinced it was fully recovered it went into seizures and died two days later. Dr. Meenen, my official wolf veterinarian speculated it was a brain aneurysm, a delayed side effect of its injury.
No sooner had I said goodbye to the red fox, I received a call to pick up an orphan gray fox kit. It did much better and is alive and well. It does even a better Cujo impersonation than the possums which adds to my late night entertainment.
There are five species of foxes found in North America but only the red and gray are found in cities. Foxes are canids and although closely related to dogs, wolves, and coyotes they will not inter breed with these animals. They also have some cat characteristics in that they have soft padded feet with retractable claws and can climb trees. They can bark, growl and yap like a dog but behave more like a cat hunting by stealth rather than pursuit typical of the other canids.
Foxes are not very large animals but often appear bigger than they really are because of their long legs, bushy tails and elongated bodies. The red fox is the larger of the two species and can reach a length up to three feet and weigh 7 to 15 pounds.
Foxes are generally most active at night but are seen in the daylight on occasion. Red foxes sometimes exhibit surprisingly bold behavior seemingly ignoring humans. They have been known to walk through yards right past humans or sit and curiously watch joggers go by rather than retreat.
People are often alarmed to discover foxes live in their neighborhoods but foxes pose little threat to humans unless they are trapped or handled. Even then a fox will rarely bite to defend itself preferring to flee or cower. Like most warm blooded animals they can carry rabies.
Foxes generally do not bother domestic pets although the larger red fox might occasionally prey on a small house cat, kitten, guinea pig or rabbit left unattended outdoors. Red and Gray foxes enjoy grapes, raspberries, apples and other fruit but tend to leave vegetable gardens alone. They are opportunistic feeders eating almost anything including insects, small mammals, fruits, carrion, eggs and lizards.
They are excellent diggers and can easily dig under a chicken coop wall or fence that is not protected by a footer or underground wire.
They are sometimes blamed for things they did not deserve. A trash can knocked over by dogs or raccoons might attract them after the fact. For the most part foxes do more good for humans then harm keeping rodent population under control and cleaning up carrion.
DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.
See web page under "HOW YOU CAN HELP" for specific ways you can help us help wildlife
