Orphaned 6-Week-Old Infant Fox Follows Family Home While They're Walking Their Dog

Jul 01, 2020 by apost team

In this recent story, the Caballero family enjoyed their nightly stroll through the neighborhood, walking their dog, and getting some fresh air. The Tempe, Arizona residents enjoyed the evening time out of the house and together.

On this night, they noticed someone trying to join their family group. A baby fox trailed the family. It appeared as if he wanted to come with them on their walk.

Fox sightings in the area occur quite often. However, rarely did the Caballeros see a fox so small. They thought they may have a six-week-old on their hands. It showed no fear of the family or their dog. The fox came right up to them, leading the children to believe that the fox thought their dog was the fox’s mother.

When they reached the house, the fox immediately started drinking from the sprinklers. The Caballeros realized the fox, by now nicknamed Foxy, suffered from dehydration and malnourishment. They put the kids and the dog inside and returned with a travel carrier before returning to capture the fox, which they did without touching it

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The Caballeros contacted the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center for advice. The center rushed someone to their house to transport Foxy to a facility with trained wildlife experts where she could receive proper care. The center commended the Caballeros for their quick thinking and humane rescue of Foxy.

The center spoke to Apost and explained that during this time of year they are inundated with baby wildlife, with everything from coyotes and raccoons, to skunks and javelinas. They explained: "Many of them are injured or physically deformed—and abandoned. Others either wander off and get lost, or Mom gets hurt or injured and can't make it back to her babies." The protocol they recommend to people who find such baby animals is to avoid picking them up, as the mom could just be off hunting for dinner, only to return and find her babies missing.

The center also praised the Caballeros for not handling Foxy. With Foxy’s undeniable cuteness, the Caballeros could easily have snuggled the fox, passing her from person to person on the couch and enjoying cuddle time with the sweet fox. They could have waited a day to call the center so that the family could enjoy Foxy. Instead, the Caballeros made the right choice for Foxy’s health.

The center fed Foxy from a syringe for a few days before she learned to eat from a dish. They hope to place her with other young rescued foxes. If the young foxes bond, the center can release them into the wild together, improving the chances that the foxes will survive in the wilderness. They told us:

"As with every animal we take in, we hope she'll be able to be released back into the wild eventually. We have a more than 70% success rate doing that (including three baby black bears we took in last spring who were released earlier this year)."

The Caballeros take great pride in saving the life of young Foxy. Their quick thinking and concern for Foxy’s welfare gives Foxy a chance to live to adulthood and roam free in the wilderness. They have pictures and videos to remember their little fox foundling by. One night in the future, when they see a fox on the horizon, they may imagine that Foxy returned to thank them for giving her the gift of life.

What are your thoughts on this incredible story about Foxy? Let us know down below, and be sure to pass this on to your friends and family.