A Forever Home for Four Foxes
The Rescue
This is not a “new” story about animal rescue, but it is our story. Animal rescue can be heartbreaking. It can take a lot longer than expected. It can mean not having the space to rescue them all, but it can also be joyous in providing a new home for life for an animal in need. Or in our case, providing a home for life for four foxes.
We received a call from Humane Society investigators regarding a large confiscation case in which a breeder lost his USDA license and had to find placement for approximately 80 animals, including foxes, wolf hybrids, lynx, raccoons, and other wildlife. This rescue effort took a lot of coordination between the Humane Society, the county officials, DNR and our Wild Paws team. At this time, we were able to commit to taking in four of the foxes. As per usual, these rescue efforts usually take longer than expected as was this case.
When we finally came to the site to pick up the animals we were appalled at what conditions the animals were living in. These photos are shocking to view but we feel it is important to show the conditions these four foxes were living in prior to them coming to their forever home at Wild Paws. Rows of small cages, filled with breeding pairs.
Both sets of pairs we committed to were living with a shared wall, and seemed to get along with each other. After we got them all into their crates we headed back to Wild Paws to welcome them to their new home in their acclimation habitat. They traveled well and seemed very calm, and we hoped it meant they knew they were headed for a better place to live.
There are no words to describe the feeling of being able to watch an animal have space to walk, and grass under their paws for the first time. All four of our new residents were quite hungry and ate up every bit of prey, raw diet, produce and special dry food we had put out for them. From what we were told, they had only been provided dry kibble in the past, and they drank fresh water for the first time in awhile. They stretched and jumped and ran, with our new red fox buddy getting the full-on zoomies!
They are very chatty, and there were many different vocalizations as they greeted each other, and also ran along their shared wall. Our hopes are that at some point in the future they will all be able to live together in one permanent space. For now they are all enjoying their new life, and look forward to new tastes and smells, as well as experiences with different and fun types of enrichment including toys, puzzle feeders, and hidden food items.
Red Fox Color Morphs
These four foxes are all of the species vulpes vulpes, even though only one male looks like a red fox. Even in the wild, red foxes do not always have red fur, as color morphs can happen. The unfortunate reality is that many breeders want to create a variety of different color fur patterns.
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The white female is an unusual leucistic fox. Leucism is a genetic abnormality in which there is a partial loss of pigment, which creates white or lighter fur. This is different from an albino, which is a genetic abnormality in which there is a total loss of pigment.
The two black foxes have a variety of colors in their fur, including black, silver, tan, and white.
Personalities
All four foxes are beautiful, and each have their own personalities. The black pair are living together in one section of their acclimation habitat, with a shared wall separating them from the red and white foxes.
Midnight, Male Fox
Midnight is more mellow than the others yet still has a lot of confidence. He was the first to step out of his crate to explore his new life. He is very quick to interact with new things in his environment. He is friendly and inquisitive, and loves raspberries.
Aurora, Female Fox
Midnight’s roommate is very intelligent. She had no problem solving a puzzle feeder immediately. She is a bit more shy than the others, but she holds her own when it is dinnertime! She loves produce, especially corn, carrots, apples, and dried cherries.
This video shows their first steps into their new home.
Flash, Male Red Fox
Flash is a big boy in stature. He is very playful, and loves his zoomies, as well as climbing. He is quite speedy and rarely just walks around casually, rather prefers a quick trot. He also likes to play the “hide and pounce” game with his roomie. He is very food motivated. We have started doing a training program with all of them, and he has been very quick to catch on.
Hide and pounce, and zoomies!
Coconut, Female Leucistic Fox
Coconut, a.k.a. Coco, has a big personality in her tiny body. She is very spunky and playful, and also quite vocal. She is the one of the four who is quickest to come out and greet her caretakers. She grins/smiles, and wags her tail a little when we approach or talk to her. She is absolutely crazy about squeaky toys. She hordes them from the big red fox and gets very possessive should he come near to try to check them out.
This girl loves her squeaky toys!