The RSPCA has thanked a South London resident for helping rescue a fox cub that was found struggling to thrive without her mother.
The baby fox was in a distressed state wandering through a communal garden near Steedman Street, a busy main road in Elephant and Castle, on Tuesday, March 4. There was no sign his mother was around and the member of the public who found him attempted to reunite the young fox with her mother, by placing him in a cardboard box, which was left at a safe location nearby. This is the best course of action if people find fox cubs that may appear to have been orphaned as it gives them the best chance of survival.
After failing to coax the mother back to her offspring, the resident contacted the RSPCA and Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Paige Havlin (pictured) attended and made a second attempt to reunite mum with her cub the following evening. Sadly, despite showing the curiosity to make several more visits to the location, the mother didn’t take the cub back.
Her approach was captured on phone camera footage taken by Paige, who 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 she was very skittish and while she ate the food we left out for her she did not take the cub.”
Afterwards Paige searched local gardens for fox dens after neighbours confirmed that foxes were regular visitors to the area, although nothing was found and with the health of the baby fox, who is around eight weeks old, the decision was made to take him to South Essex Wildlife Hospital (on March 6). Staff at the hospital are now caring for him among a group of fox cubs so he can build up the skills to survive on his own and then they will release him back into the wild when he is ready.
The RSPCA says people should bear in mind that if they come across fox cubs in the open they may not have been abandoned. Vixens move their litter one by one if the den is disturbed, so it is possible cubs may be spotted alone. In this case it was clear the cub was in danger and had been alone for some time, so the member of the public did the right thing intervening.
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. There is more information about fox cubs on the RSPCA website.
Animals’ futures are in our hands. The decisions we take now will influence the lives animals enjoy in the future. Animal Futures: The Big Conversation is live this March – and the RSPCA wants as many people as possible to have their say on the future of animal welfare in this country.
