Roadside Fox Found Alive: A Cyclist’s Rescue and Injured-Fox Advice

On his way to work, a cyclist found a fox lying still at the edge of the road and took it for dead. When he passed the same spot on his way home, the fox was still there, and still alive. He picked it up and went looking for veterinary help, and his photos of the roadside fox were shared on Imgur and reposted widely.

The roadside fox story

The photos tell the story in three steps. First, a small fox lying on its side on the tarmac. Then the same animal curled beside a clump of yellow flowers at the road edge. Finally, the fox held in a person’s arms, very much alive.

A fox lying motionless after a collision may only be stunned. Concussion and shock can leave an animal limp and unresponsive, which is why wildlife rescuers ask that any fox hit by a car be checked by someone trained. In this case, a second look on the way home was what made the difference.

Red fox facts

The red fox lives across most of North America, Europe and Asia and parts of North Africa, and it was introduced to Australia.

• Size: 45–90 cm long in the body, plus a bushy tail of 30–55 cm, and about 2–14 kg in weight. Vixens are 15–20% lighter than males.
• Diet: an omnivore that eats more than 300 animal species, mostly small rodents, along with birds, rabbits, insects, fruit and vegetables. A fox needs about 500 g of food a day.
• Habits: foxes usually forage alone and hunt mainly in the early morning and late evening. They can run at up to 50 km/h, jump fences over 2 m high and swim well.
• Lifespan: few wild foxes live past five years; in captivity they can reach 15.

What to do if you find an injured fox

Wildlife rescues give clear advice for an adult fox that has been hit by a car:

1. Call a local wildlife rescue first. A fox hit by a vehicle needs checking for concussion, shock and other injuries.
2. Check whether it can move. Rescues often ask you to walk to within about two metres. A healthy fox runs away; one that stays put needs help straight away.
3. Do not try to catch an adult fox yourself. A frightened fox can give a serious bite. Wait for the rescue’s instructions on containing and transporting it.
4. Note the exact spot. If the fox limps off, watch where it goes so the rescue can find it.

Compare Navarre the wolf’s documented rescue-centre account, where a rescue organisation took over the recovery, or the Norway duck-rescue photographs.

Related reading

• Eleven Fox Photographs: Fur, Snow and Small Changes of Pose
• A Red Fox’s Headfirst Pounce into Snow

Sources