When team members atPocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center recently learned of a fox suffering from severe mange lingering near an intersection in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, the animal advocates knew they had to help.
Rescuers set humane
traps around the area. They waited nervously, knowing that with each passing second, the fox’s condition was likely worsening.
“At this stage, intervention can be the difference between prolonged suffering and a genuine chance at recovery,” the rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
After days of searching with no trace of the fox, the rescuers began to feel defeated. Then something amazing happened — a homeowner called and told them about a sickly fox asleep in a pile of dirt in their yard. Could this be the fox they were looking for?
“Of course, [she] wasn't in a single one of the five traps I had set, but at this point, none of that matters,” the rescue wrote. “What matters is that we finally have [her].”
Rescuers named the fox Princess. They took her back to the rehab center, where they began treatment and set up a warm place for her to recover.
“When an animal is this compromised, sometimes you cannot fix everything at once,” the rescue wrote. “[Her] little body needs time to stabilize, and we are supporting [her] while giving [her] every opportunity to find the strength to keep fighting.
Princess’ eyes grew brighter, and her orange coat slowly regained its former shine.
“She is ten times better than she was,” Pocono Wildlife executive director Janine Tancredi told The Dodo.
Once she was fully healed, rescuers released Princess back into the wild, smiling as they watched her return home.
“[She] has plenty of time to find safe spots for the winter, and [she] told us in no uncertain terms that she was ready to be free,” the rescue wrote. “Live well, little one, and know your neighbors are looking out for you.”
