Family adopts abandoned ‘kitten’… but it grew up to be something wild
PEOPLE have been warned to stop bringing fox cubs into their homes – after one was mistaken for a kitten by the public.
The Scottish animal welfare group SPCA sent out the warning after reports of numerous cubs being separated from their families.
In another case, a fox was brought into someone’s home just a mere hour after being found in a garden.
Last year, it was reported that at least ten fox cubs were found in people’s gardens and taken home.
The charity recommends monitoring baby foxes from a safe distance before acting.
Individuals are also urged to phone its helpline prior to any intervention.
This, they hope, will prevent further preventable admissions of cubs to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre.
Scottish SPCA centre manager, Chris Hogsden, said: “We are reminding the public to be wildlife wise around fox cubs as we come in to the busy spring and summer months at our wildlife hospital.
“If you see a baby fox that you think needs help, please monitor them from a safe distance before intervening.
“If a fox does need assistance, please call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999 for advice.
“Last year we cared for 10 cubs who had been found by well-meaning people in their gardens and taken in to their homes.
“Some people even kept the animals for several days before contacting us.”
Removing cubs from their natural habitat can be doubly harmful as the animals will require a period of months before they can assimilate into the wild again.
Chris continued: “Once a fox comes in to our care in the spring, they will be rehabilitated for five to six months and most wild animals can be very stressed in captivity.
“We can only release foxes at a time of year when they would naturally disperse in to the wild.
“If we are contacted after a fox has been taken from their family for several days, the chances of reuniting them with their pack are slim.”
“Recently a fox was in a garden for just one hour before being unnecessarily lifted, and another was taken into someone’s home because they thought the cub was a kitten.
“All wild animals should have minimal interaction with humans.”