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| Many of the foxes admitted to Wildlives
have long-term problems, so although the numbers of foxes admitted are low in
comparison to, say, hedgehogs, foxes take a lot of time and work. |
Most are admitted as orphans, for some
form of injury, or for sarcoptic mange. Casualties that require constant
attention will be housed in the Wildlives hospital. However, because the
hospital tends to be
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busy - and foxes (as with all wildlife) are
susceptible to the effects of stress - they will be transferred into one of the
outside pens as soon as possible. The fox pens are further from the hubub of
everyday routine, so foxes can recover in peace. In 2005, these pens were
fitted with electricity and infra red heating so sick foxes that need a heat
source can be housed there. |
| Foxes brought to Wildlives will be routinely
blood-tested, and provided with all necessary veterinary treatment. Adult foxes
will be housed individually (although the fox pens themselves are in close
proximity), but cubs may be housed together in order that they may play
together and learn off each other. |
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| Wildlives has a no-euthanasia policy. We
are loathe to put to sleep any creature that has some chance of recovering and
enjoying some quality of life afterwards. As a result of this policy, we have
foxes that live here as permanent residents. Maggie, Saffie and Gilbert were
all brought in suffering from toxoplasmosis. In each case, the disease had
progressed to an extent that they had sustained irreversible damage and would
not have survived if released back into the wild. |
| Maggie |
| Maggie is Wildlives' oldest resident fox. She
was brought to Wildlives in 2000, and at that point was estimated to be about
two years old - so she is now approximately eight years of age. She was
diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and canine infectious hepatitis. She was both
blind and deaf at the time of her admission. She was also pregnant, but
miscarried not long after - something that can happen as a result of toxo. |
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| In time, she recovered both her sight and her
hearing. However, she spent a lot of time circling and had no fear of people.
With the exception of a short period during the breeding season when she comes
into oestrus, she is placid and friendly with volunteers. She would not survive
on her own in the wild. |
| Every year, Maggie is introduced to a new
generation of fox cubs. They always seem alternatively ecstatic and blissfully
happy to see her. Maggie's reaction is slightly less enthusiastic, but she
seems content enough to have them dogging her footsteps and curling up with her
to sleep. |
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| Saffie |
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Saffron
was brought to Wildlives by the RSPCA in October 2004, after being found
collapsed. Her strange behaviour alerted Rosie to the possibility of
toxoplasmosis, and she was sent to the vets for tests. They came back positive.
Originally it was thought that, with treatment, Saffie would recover and could
be released but, although her physical good health returned, her neurological
problems did not go away. |
| She now
lives with Maggie, with whom she gets on well. Unlike Maggie, Saffie sleeps in
the long grass most of the day and becomes very active at night - more like a
wild fox. However, she remains docile and unwary of people (and dogs). |
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| Gilbert |
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Gilbert
was brought to Wildlives by some people who used to put food out for him, and
who were concerned because he seemed unable to use one of his rear legs. He was
taken to the vets, where it was found that his femur was broken. However,
because the break was an old one, and had already started to calcify, the vet
decided to leave it. In addition however, the neck of the femur had snapped.
The vet removed the femoral head completely, and Gilbert returned to Wildlives
to recover. |
| He had a
disconcerting habit of following volunteers around though, and rushing eagerly
to the boundary of his enclosure every time one of the dogs walked past. A
strict no contact policy was enforced to try to 'wild him up', and once his leg
was healed, an attempt was even made to release him. He refused to go however,
and once again he was brought back to Wildlives. |
| It was thought originally that
Gilbert may have become too familiar with the volunteers. However, he was quite
a ditzy fox, and finally Rosie had him tested for toxo. Once again, the tests
came back positive, and so Gilbert has become a permanent resident. |
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