Fab 4 Fox Habitat Fund & Construction Updates
We need your support to get the Fab 4 Foxes into their permanent habitat!
Donate to Fab 4 Fox Habitat Fund
We Are In The Midst Of Our Fab 4 Fox Habitat Fundraising Campaign!
What does your donation mean for the Fab 4?
$12 = one hog ring plier
$15 = one board for climbing structures
$22 = one bag of wire ties
$65 = one sheet of 5x16 ft cattle panel
$100 = one guillotine shift door
$140 = one dogloo house
$225 = one 14 ft pole installed
$300 = one roll of fencing for roof
$350 = one Preifert panel with door
$400 = materials to build one den
$650 = 100 lbs hog rings
$1000 = 1 climbing structure for enrichment
Fundraising for Fab 4 Fox Habitat Construction
Wild Paws is an all-volunteer organization, including our working board. Due to our generous donors, determined supporters, and hard-working volunteers, Wild Paws is celebrating 10 years of hard work and determination, keeping us on task to provide a home for life for displaced wild animals. We are making this fundraising appeal as we are in the midst of building the Fab 4 Fox Habitat.
We need your help to make this happen!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE OCTOBER 29, 2024
We had a larger crew this past weekend, with friends bringing friends, and we were able to tack in the entire bottom row of cattle panel.
This is important because we can start putting down the chainlink dig barrier. One thing has to be done before the other, and we are racing againsy=t the weather. The cattle panel needed to be attached to the botton rail before we can attach the chainlink dig barrier. After that is completely placed, we can put in the dirt fill, which needs to happen before we can start working on the support beams for the ceiling. We have many dates coming up in November for groupd volunteer days. Sent a note directly to volunteer.wildpaws@gmail.com if interested in putting your own crew together!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE OCTOBER 7, 2024
In the past two months, Wild Paws has been busy fundraising, purchasing materials, and scheduling volunteer days to complete the fencing and dig-barrier for the floor. Following weeks of fundraising, Midwest Fence recently set the fence posts, crossbars and gate for the 70 x 80 ft habitat. Professionally setting the poles at a 4’ depth is a safety feature to ensure that our habitat can withstand our harsh winters.
Midwest Fence professional installation
Setting the poles
Making sure they are perfectly aligned
The next step is to attach the cattle panels to the posts. This work requires two full volunteer days and we need your help! If you are not already a member of our volunteer team, you can submit an application here.
In parallel to securing the cattle panel to our newly installed fence posts, this month the Animal Care team will construct the holding area. Flash, Coconut, Midnight and Aurora will have their own ‘assigned’ area to eat, and receive medication when needed. As anyone with multiple pets knows, it can be challenging to keep the faster eaters from ‘stealing’ food from their roommates. The individual holding areas provide confidence that each of the foxes eats their own meal. This safety feature also allows us to perform maintenance on the habitat with the Fab 4 safely tucked away in their own space. It is with appreciation to our donors that we have purchased all of the necessary supplies to build the holding areas!
The Fab 4 are enthusiastic diggers! Therefore, we must lay a layer of chain link to serve as a dig barrier to prevent them from being able to tunnel out of their new space. Our preference is to use weathered chain link that is headed to the landfill. This is usually free and is also eco-friendly. We were able to secure about 40% of the required square footage from free sources. Our volunteers worked last month to prep this chain link for use. With our deadline looming to complete the habitat before winter, we were fortunate to purchase a discontinued model of chain link at a deep discount. Once the chain link is secured to the floor by our volunteers, we will truck in dirt to make a soft and secure floor for our Fab 4. They will also have the buried stock tank in the middle of their habitat where they can dig with abandon.
October is a busy month for us with multiple volunteer days scheduled to complete the habitat walls, the holding area, and the dig barrier.
We still need your help to complete this project before winter! We continue to fundraise to purchase the dirt, materials for the ceiling, and interior features such as dens and platforms. We are so grateful for our monthly sponsors, donors and volunteers!!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE AUGUST 12, 2024
A few weeks ago, we shared that Wild Paws is building a permanent habitat for the Fab 4. We are excited to let our followers know that the first phase of construction is complete! The 70’ x 80’ site for the habitat was cleared of scrub oak forest. Some trees, stumps, and dense brush were cleared as needed. The trees were cut into various log sizes for future projects. Though we are an all-volunteer organization, we hired a professional firm for both safety and efficiency reasons. Thanks to our generous donors, we completed this excavation work on July 31!
Clearing this area was an all-day effort using heavy machinery: excavator, forestry mulcher, skid steer and chainsaw. This was loud and dusty work. Our residents displayed a variety of reactions: Finneas and Alfalfa hid in their dens; the Fab 4 curiously watched all of the action; Daphne hung out in front of her fan to escape the bugs, dust and heat. We were very pleased that all of the residents handled this disruption so well. We were also happy that we found no wild animals in the cleared area that required human assistance; though we were prepared to crate and take action as required for any critters that were displaced.
In addition to creating a path to the area, clearing and leveling the habitat area, a hole was dug for a 360-gallon stock tank. The need for this tank was posted to social media, and one of our dedicated supporters donated it! The stock tank will later be attached to the underground chain link that will surround it, and filled with dirt to provide a sandbox for the Fab 4.
The next phase of construction is to install the fence posts, crossbars and gates. We experience harsh winters with heavy snow and wind. Due to the 4’ depth required for the fence posts, and the need to have a straight fence line, we will have the posts, crossbars and gates professionally installed. Our next fundraising goal is to raise the funds for fencing.
While we must complete some elements of the new habitat with professionals, there is still much work to be completed by our energetic volunteers! Some of these tasks include installing the safety features to prevent the rascally Fab 4 from digging and/or climbing out; attaching the cattle paneling to the posts and cross bars; constructing dens and other enrichment features; helping to execute our fundraising plan. Our next volunteer day is August 31. If you already have plans, fear not, we have several more volunteer days in September and October! If you are not already on our volunteer list, please submit an application.
Many thanks to our financial supporters and volunteers for helping to get us this far!
P.S. We need used chain link! We install chain link as flooring and then cover it with dirt. This prevents the Fab 4, who are notorious diggers, from tunneling out. If you know of any sources, please send an email to: contact@wildpaws.org
JUNE 22, 2024
We want to share a bit of our historical timeline and showcase some of our accomplishments that have brought us to building a second fox permanent habitat. We purchased our 80 acre location in 2018, and established the first resident area within a 5 acre perimeter fence. In 2020 we added housing, infrastructure, and a caretaker is living onsite. In 2021 we welcomed our first residents, foxes Finneas and Alfalfa. Both foxes cannot be released back into the wild; Finneas due to his vision impairment, and Alfalfa due to being an amputee. Our volunteers had built the first acclimation habitat for Finneas, and then, pending Alfalfa’s arrival, added two additional spaces so the foxes could live separately at first, but with a shared wall to get to know one another. They became roommates after observing their reactions to each other, and quickly became best buds. During 2022-2023 we raised the funds to build and complete their permanent habitat, and the two foxes were able to move into their 8000 sq ft home for life in 2023.
With the acclimation habitat open again, we were ready to rescue more residents. We were contacted about a coyote named Daphne who needed our help. She moved into the acclimation habitat until a custom space was built for her. Daphne is our special needs resident, who is either mostly or completely blind, as well as having some neurological issues. She has come quite a ways since her arrival, due to our dedicated medical director, Noemi Plantz DVM, and her team, who brought forth a medical protocol especially suited for her. Daphne receives many different types of enrichment, and as we monitor and track her behavior, we continuously discover new things about her likes and dislikes, triggers, and calming elements.
Our newest residents, whom we affectionately call the Fab 4, also came to us in 2023. They were rescued from a breeder who had lost his license. When we arrived to pick up the foxes we were appalled to discover their living conditions in small cages, with empty food and water bowls.
Living conditions at time of rescue in 2023
They traveled well and it was amazing to see them get out of their crates and step out onto grass for the first time in their lives. They came in pairs, and lived in the acclimation habitat as such, but also had a shared wall to get to know each other. We had a naming contest, and soon the four were introduced and are now living together. They are certainly enjoying living together and often can be found in the same location, whether napping or playing together.
More about the Fab 4 arrival and how they live now
A favorite spot is on top of their den in one of their holding areas. A great place to see who might be coming through the perimeter gate, knowing they might have a treat for them.
This is why we need YOUR support!
We have marked the 70x80 ft area they will be moving to, and excavation of the area is happening in a few weeks. Excavation and setting the fence poles will be done by paid professionals, and the rest of the habitat will be completed by our volunteer team.
Path to the new habitat on the left. Some trees have been cut down and the area marked. Professional excavation will include additional trees being cut down, excavation of the entire space with room on the outside for a path wide enough to accommodate snow-blowing, a special holding or lockout area, stump removal and in place mulching, and digging a hole and placing the tub for one of our safety zone “dig” areas. (The tub will be attached to the chainlink underground.)
This picture is of Finneas and Alfalfa’s habitat area when Midwest Fence installed the poles, crossbars and gates. This will cost $20K to install for the new Fab 4 Fox Habitat, and needs to happen as soon as possible, before the habitat can be completed, with walls, underground fencing and ceiling installation.
Volunteers installing cattle panel walls and chainlink flooring in the first permanent habitat.
Due to the increase in pricing for steel and other materials, and the fact that this habitat needs not only underground chainlink flooring as a safe dig barrier, as well as 4 inches of river rock on top of the chainlink along the edges, we also need to install an enclosed ceiling due to their climbing prowess, We need to raise funds as quickly as we can so they can move in before winter.
We need to raise $50K to complete the habitat in its entirety. Our hope is that the Fab 4 can move into their new home before the snow flies this year.
Fundraising Ask - $50K Breakdown
$12K - professional excavation, tree removal, stump grinding, dirt, river rock, etc.
$20K - professional pole, crossbar, and gate installation by Midwest Fence
$ 8K - for ceiling materials, support beams, wire mesh, hardware
$10K - materials for enrichment platforms, shelving and dens; tubs for dig areas; Priefert panels for lockout holding areas; heated buckets; etc.
How can you help?
Fundraising
Spread the word of our need for donations!
Do you know if your place of employment has workplace giving? These programs offer employees the opportunity to make a charitable contribution directly through a recurring payroll deduction, and some employers even provide matched funds.
Do you have a particular company that we should reach out to for a corporate ask? Corporations can also write off their charitable contributions.
Suggestions on places to ask for gift certificates or items, to raise funds during our holiday auction?
Or any artists or musicians who may donate a piece of their work to a good cause for the auction?
Do YOU have any suggestions to help us fundraise?
Volunteering
Sign up to volunteer for a group volunteer day!
Do you have group volunteering through your employment or other association?
Would you like to put together a group day with people you know? If so, we can help you organize your own group day. It would be a fun and very fulfilling day to spend volunteering for the Fab 4 (and we know they want to get into their new space asap!)
Do you have the talents needed to help build dens, platforms, climbing structures, firehose hammocks or other items we need for inside their habitat? Many of these items can be built offsite, in your own garage or backyard, and we can pick up and deliver to Wild Paws.
Spread the word that we need help building the Fab 4 Fox Habitat!