A lost, dehydrated and lonely baby fox follows a family and their dog home. The animal was taken to a conservation center and then released.
The Caballero family from Tempe, Arizona, USA, were walking as usual with their dog Olive when they were joined by a baby fox. Apparently, the little gray fox mistook the pup for its mother and started following them home.
The animal was still very small, it could even fit in the palms of the hands, and the fur was different shades of gray. It was later discovered that she was female and was only 6 weeks old at the time.
The little girl followed them to the house, where the sprinklers were on at the time, so she ran to get some water, and Rosalyn, the mother of the family, noticed how thirsty she was because she couldn’t stop drinking.
Baby fox rescued after following family home
Noting that the little girl was far from home and that her mother would not have left her alone, since this is not a typical behavior of foxes, since they are animals that do not separate from their young; the family decided it would be best to contact the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center for help with the baby, according to Bored Panda.
The family searched for a box to capture her so she wouldn’t escape into danger. They put it inside the box without touching it, just by drawing it. The children called him ‘Foxy’.
Foxy was taken to the conservation center and the first thing they did was feed her with syringes, but now she has learned to feed herself with a bowl.
This is not the first time that gray foxes have been seen in the region, it is common to see them passing by in packs. However, what was out of the ordinary was that Foxy was alone, dehydrated and lost.
Little Foxy is now in good hands, being cared for at the center where they hope to pair her with some of the other foxes who have recently arrived to be released back into the wild once they are strong enough.
A virtual baby shower has been organized for Foxy and the other babies at the center. An event dedicated to celebrating the lives of injured, orphaned or abandoned wild animals that are cared for there.
At the event, people can donate money or items that are on their wishlist.
Most baby foxes lack the confidence, like Foxy, to approach people, experts say. They are very cautious in their approach to things, being so small they are both predator and prey, but Foxy seems to be the bravest of her family.
Thanks to the Caballero family who found the little girl and took care of helping her before something serious happened.
Images: Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center / Arizona’s EMS Association / 12 News