Posted on 29th November 2024
It's been a while since we updated the website, but that isn't to say not a lot has been happening. Over spring/summer 2024 we succesfully rehabilitated and released over 41 orphaned cubs (spread out into 9 groups). These cubs were taken to soft-release locations where pens were set up/released after acclimitising to the area after several weeks in the pens. These sites were spread out from as far as Dumfries in Scotland, to Alderholt in Dorset.
The circumstances that these cubs were found in vary from being found next to their dead mother, to being found wondering in busy roads, approaching people in the street and in one case, Marcus, was handed into a vets suffering with a broken back leg, which had to be pinned. As a result, he had to stay with us until the leg healed, and then he was able to be mixed into a group and released.
Now that all the cubs have been dealt with/released, we're past the dispersal season when cubs are chased from the territories they were born in by their mothers, in order for them to find their own territories, and we approach the mating season at the end of December. The shorter days, combined with cubs dispering, has resulted in a lot of calls about injured and sick juveniles. At the time of writing, we currently have 5 adult/juvenile foxes in our care.
Posted on 26th February 2023
It's been a busy start to 2023 - we are averaging 1 emergency daily as well as regular call outs requiring traps for sick and injured foxes. Trapping, however, is always a last resort, which we will only carry out for the worst affected foxes. Currently in our care we have a fox (Tempura) who has had to have his left eye removed after a horrific injury in which the eye itself had become punctured and was beyond repair, two very badly affected mange foxes (Stroud and Buddy) and one fox (Phoenix) who is in with us being treated for mange and a huge abscess on her back end which was lanced and cleaned out by our vets. All foxes are doing well, and as of this post, we've admitted 11 adult foxes into the unit who require intensive care/a short stay with us in the first couple of months of 2023. As aforementioned, this is on top of the daily emergency cases we get in - in which foxes are in such a poor state the only thing we can do for them is to provide them with a peaceful end to their lives by getting them to our vets to be euthanised. We have also dealt with some foxes that we've trapped/picked up that have been able to be treated for mange with a long-lasting treatment and then released back home. All in all it's been our busiest start to a year since setting up, and we are just about to enter into the cub season...
Posted on 5th December 2022
Why not help support us by visiting our online shop and purchasing one of our brand new 2023 Fox Rescuers calendars and Christmas cards? You can find our online shop right here: https://www.thefoxrescuers.org.uk/shop
Calendars: £10 inc P&P within UK
Cards (10 pk) - 3 designs: £5 inc P&P within UK
Posted on 13th September 2022
We've had a bit of an influx in cubs coming in with mange lately, with one of the latest being Jacob. We're still attempting to trap his sibling who we are told is in an even worse state than he is. Considering he's in a bad state as is, we dread to think how bad his brother/sister is. We'll do our best to get them into our care and get them sorted though. Jacob has a healthy appetite if nothing else, which will certainly help him with regards to recovery. He's begun mange treatment and we are anticipating a turnaround within 2-3 weeks for him, by which point we hope to have caught his sibling.
25/09/22: Update on Jacob
We are happy to report that Jacob was released back home following successful treatment for mange. His release, along with several other foxes released around the same time as him, can be viewed on our youtube page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On0NiEFwTLc
Posted on 23rd August 2022
Blu and Sage, part of the group who were moved to their release site on Sunday where they'll remain in the pen for around 4 weeks before the door is open and they'll be given their freedom. We have yet to move 2 groups of orphaned cubs, with the next pen being set up soon at a beautiful release site in Scotland. We have been really particular with what sites we have gone with this year, and despite having so many people offering sites, we've been extra picky and are still in need of one last site.
We do have options, but we would prefer sites with coverts in the surrounding area for when the foxes leave the pens. The usual specifications apply i.e. no busy roads nearby, no hunts operating in the immediate area, and no organised shooting. Whilst there is no such thing as 'the perfect release site', we've gone with the best we can find we feel will give the cubs who have had a tough start to life, the best chance in the wild post-release.
If you think that you could offer a release site for our orphaned cubs and would like more information on what is required, then please get in touch via one of the methods on our contact us page.
Are you are in the Leeds, Wirral, Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire or West Midlands area and have an injured or sick fox? We can help. Get in touch today by contacting us on 07572270432.
Posted on 20th August 2022
Trent came to us on Wednesday with most of his fur missing, though again he is another fox without the thick crust despite having quite advanced mange. He could have been considered for a spot-on treatment and release but when he was collected it was noticed that he had a small wound on his left thigh which had a little bit of discharge and there were already flies on it so the decision was made to bring him in. When we examined and cleaned the wound it was actually 3 small puncture wounds and these are being cleaned daily. He’s a sweet boy and has a good appetite. Luckily all you lovely supporters have sent us a good supply of food so Trent can eat to his hearts content and get healthy again.
If you are in the Leeds, Wirral, Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire or West Midlands area and have an injured or sick fox, we can help. Get in touch today by contacting us on 07572270432.