Post by rowanberry on Dec 14, 2018 21:00:05 GMT
Three or four nights ago a fox appeared on the trailcam, and it was in an extremely bad condition.
I have seen mangy animals before, and this was one of the worst I think I’ve ever seen. I hoped it might be simply passing through, but I carefully went through all the trail-camera clips the next day.
It showed up again, but this time it was accompanied by what I’m guessing might be one of its siblings- if anything, in an even worse state… the poor beggar looks like one of those Mexican hairless dogs. Even on the black and white videos I could see the scabs from where it had clawed its hair out… and then, later in the early hours of the same night- yet another fox with mange, but larger than the first two and not quite as bad- their mother, maybe?
Our regular vixen and two of her cubs appeared at different times on the videos to the ones with mange, but they are obviously crossing paths at some point. Since the first time they’ve appeared, the two poorly cubs have started roaming about the garden throughout the day and I’ve started dosing them with some homeopathic mange drops I got earlier this year when one of our regular foxes seemed to be scratching at his tail more than usual.
In the meantime, I’ve contacted or called literally everyone I could find online… the Fox Welfare Society I’ve emailed two desperate messages, then phoned both their numbers today but their emergency one goes to a ‘This line has a fault on it’ recording. The Fox Project person was very sympathetic, but unfortunately they don’t cover our area… she gave me the number of a wildlife shelter who have yet to return my call. The other wildlife shelter nearest to us I can’t get through to- their phone goes straight to a message saying they are at full capacity and are not accepting any more animals at the moment.
One of the people I spoke to, (I can’t remember which one, exactly- it’s been that kind of day!) said she was very sorry- but told me basically, I’m on my own.
So I keep checking at the window, watching to see if they are about and making sure the magpies don’t nick the treated dogfood I’ve put out. The cubs are so pitiful- eyes swollen shut with conjunctivitis, limping and open sores on their backs. I hate to think how cold they must be, and I cry when they come up to the house and stare up at me as though beseeching me to help them, and oh, damn it I don’t know what to DO.
Sorry to unload, but I care a great deal about our foxes…. and I’m certainly not going to chase away these poor unfortunates. I just wish there was some way to get professional advice on the best way to heal the ill ones while keeping the healthy ones in good condition!
I have seen mangy animals before, and this was one of the worst I think I’ve ever seen. I hoped it might be simply passing through, but I carefully went through all the trail-camera clips the next day.
It showed up again, but this time it was accompanied by what I’m guessing might be one of its siblings- if anything, in an even worse state… the poor beggar looks like one of those Mexican hairless dogs. Even on the black and white videos I could see the scabs from where it had clawed its hair out… and then, later in the early hours of the same night- yet another fox with mange, but larger than the first two and not quite as bad- their mother, maybe?
Our regular vixen and two of her cubs appeared at different times on the videos to the ones with mange, but they are obviously crossing paths at some point. Since the first time they’ve appeared, the two poorly cubs have started roaming about the garden throughout the day and I’ve started dosing them with some homeopathic mange drops I got earlier this year when one of our regular foxes seemed to be scratching at his tail more than usual.
In the meantime, I’ve contacted or called literally everyone I could find online… the Fox Welfare Society I’ve emailed two desperate messages, then phoned both their numbers today but their emergency one goes to a ‘This line has a fault on it’ recording. The Fox Project person was very sympathetic, but unfortunately they don’t cover our area… she gave me the number of a wildlife shelter who have yet to return my call. The other wildlife shelter nearest to us I can’t get through to- their phone goes straight to a message saying they are at full capacity and are not accepting any more animals at the moment.
The vets nearest to us said they don’t deal with wildlife, and gave me the number of a vet who might. They were only able to offer to sell me two tablets of prescription mange medication at a cost of nearly £60.
So I keep checking at the window, watching to see if they are about and making sure the magpies don’t nick the treated dogfood I’ve put out. The cubs are so pitiful- eyes swollen shut with conjunctivitis, limping and open sores on their backs. I hate to think how cold they must be, and I cry when they come up to the house and stare up at me as though beseeching me to help them, and oh, damn it I don’t know what to DO.
I’ve ordered tablets that were recommended by the Fox Project, (I think.) They might come tomorrow, (fingers crossed).
I’m going to run out of the homeopathic drops I do have at this rate, because I’m now dosing our vixen and her cubs like mad… if she catches this, it will break my heart... but I don't know if I'm doing any good or not... does it act as a preventative? No one seemed to know. 
I went out and bought liver and chicken (yeah, I know… but it was up to its sell-by-date and reduced. Of course I have to feed them- what else can I do? It's December and they've got no hair.)
I am going to do my absolute level best to keep our vixen well- but PLUS, there is now a huge dog fox putting in an appearance now and again, (it’s that time of year… he’s in lurve) so I’ve three maybe four healthy foxes coming in contact with up to three extremely ill and highly contagious foxes.
Sorry to unload, but I care a great deal about our foxes…. and I’m certainly not going to chase away these poor unfortunates. I just wish there was some way to get professional advice on the best way to heal the ill ones while keeping the healthy ones in good condition!
If anyone here has been through a similar situation, I would really, really appreciate any tips on how to deal with this... or know who to contact?? The best place for them to be is an animal hospital, but it look like that ain't going to happen.
I am stressed. 
I don't know if this applies in the winter or not, but it would seem transmission is probably going to be inevitable, what with all of them probably going in and out of the garden via the same routes.
