05/14/2026
🦊 One local family was shocked to find a red fox on their porch, clearly in desperate need of help. He was noticeably lethargic and alarmingly unbothered by the humans cautiously observing him. The family reached out to us for help, and we coordinated with local officials to safely bring him into our care.
He was malnourished, dehydrated, and the lesions surrounding his eyes had compromised his vision to the point of temporary blindness. The skin covering his face, down his sides, hind end, and tail was thickened and crusty. He was suffering from a late stage of Sarcoptic Mange, a highly contagious infestation of external parasitic mites that burrow into the skin. The condition can infect most mammals and often leads to fatal secondary conditions if left untreated. We gave the fox medications to address infection and parasites, and when he was well enough, a bath to clean his wounds and infected skin. Over the following weeks, his body continued to heal, his fur began to grow back in, and his energy was returning. ❤️🩹
Despite these incredible improvements, it was vital to keep him in care until his fur had grown back entirely. Most essentially, the layers of fur on a fox's tail are vital for temperature regulation, as they wrap around the fox, guarding the sensitive pads of their feet and nose, effectively creating a microclimate to keep them warm. A healthy tail is also crucial for maintaining balance and enabling the quick, nimble movements required for hunting prey, evading predators, and finding stable footing after a jump.
After nearly two months in care, his recovery was complete. His sight had been restored, a full coat of fur had grown back from nose to tail, and we could not have been happier to watch him trot into the wilderness on the day he was released. 💚
