This story starts in a home in Alsager, England. The family living in the house in question had been shocked when they saw a strange animal appear in the backyard. The creature had been looking right back at them! As soon as they saw it on their property, they knew that it would be a day that they won’t forget. But the weirdest part of the entire encounter must be that they had no idea what it was. What did they plan to do about it?
The Truth About The Unknown Animal That Ended Up In Their Backyard
A Shocking Morning
The truth was that it started as a normal morning. David Scott was a 45-year-old engineer living in a suburb close to Cheshire. He went to the backyard to let his son play, but they stopped in their tracks just as they were about to open the door. They saw a strange animal in that part of the house! It was hard to tell if it was some cat or dog. It did not look like anything that they had ever seen before.
A Shocking Morning
A Wild Creature
They made eye contact with the animal, who seemed equally shocked to see them there. Scott and his son did not plan to go up to the creature since they had no clue what on earth it was. Once the shock wore out, the animal looked more relaxed and went up to the sliding glass door. Neither David nor his partner Anna McArdle knew of any pet like that. However, it did not seem spooked by them either.
A Wild Creature
They Were All Curious
“He’d gone out with the baby, and I heard him shouting that there’s a wild animal, and he was a bit panicked by it,” said Anna. The weird animal had the same shape as a fox, but its fur was black and silver. They saw that it had relaxed enough to sit down beneath the picnic table leisurely. She knew that she had to do something about it, so she took to Facebook to ask for help!
They Were All Curious
Not Going Anywhere
She felt confused not just by what it was but also what to do with it. She knew that the animal would not stay there forever, but she was worried about its safety. It was still possible that someone out there was looking for their strange pet! When she posted the photo, someone immediately got in touch with her. It was a good thing that the post reached the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals!
Not Going Anywhere
Her Facebook Post
Have you ever woken up to find a strange animal in your backyard? Anna first thought that it was a dog who got lost and ended up in their yard. However, she knew that this was not the case after seeing its tail.
Her Facebook Post
Not A Dog
This one has a bushy tail that did not reflect that of a dog! An RSPCA inspector named Amanda Lovett assisted her as a result of her Facebook post. What kind of animal did they have their eyes on?
Not A Dog
A Very Rare Animal
The truth was that even the RSPCA inspector herself was shocked. It was a silver fox, which is a scarce find. It was a melanistic type of the red fox, but it is nearly extinct because people haunted it for its pelts. From what she knew of this creature, Amanda Lovett suspected that it had a strange origin story.
A Very Rare Animal
The Nature Of Wild Foxes
Wild foxes have earned a reputation for their crafty and mischievous nature. The carnivorous animal has to employ its cleverness when it comes to finding its meal.
The Nature Of Wild Foxes
It Wasn’t A Pet
It is a shrewd hunter who hunts rabbits, rodents, and reptiles for food. Lovett sensed there was something strange about this fox. It was slightly overweight, which is unusual in wild animals. This indicated that the animal was a pet.
It Wasn’t A Pet
The Fox Behaved Strangely Too
Aside from that, the family said that the fox did not seem startled by humans’ presence. As a matter of fact, it looked like it wanted to go inside their home. The creature was clearly determined. It acted in a way that suggested it had previously been domesticated and did not fear humans at all.
The Fox Behaved Strangely Too
They Had To Be Careful
Even if this were the case, foxes are hard to wrangle. On top of that, you can never tell what a wild animal has gone through. They tend to get rabies, viruses, and other diseases. A wounded animal might also lash out at you even if you want to help it. What did the RSPCA plan to do about this creature?
They Had To Be Careful
A Fascinating Tactic
For some reason, the fox was interested in entering the home of David Scott. At RSPCA, the employees agreed that they could use this fact to their advantage. They came up with a plan. It involved luring the animal to the utility room and then cutting off its escape routes. This should make it possible to catch it.
A Fascinating Tactic
Vital For Its Safety
Amanda Lovett was a person who deeply loves animals. She must have been under a lot of pressure. It was the fifth of November, also known as Bonfire Night. This meant that they would see the biggest fireworks display of the year that night.
Vital For Its Safety
They Hate Noise
The flashing lights, as well as excessive noise, maybe entertaining to human beings, but they are not so entertaining to animals. This is why pets go missing so frequently during the holidays!
They Hate Noise
It Was A Success
The plan worked very well. Lovett managed to bring the fox to the utility room and usher it into a cat box. After that, they got in touch with the Stapeley Wildlife Centre to make a fox facility.
It Was A Success
Taking Care Of It
To accommodate it, the center was kind enough to keep its doors open later than usual! They were taken aback by the animal’s quietness and tameness. It didn’t act like a typical wild animal in the least.
Taking Care Of It
A Fox Called Shadow
They decided that it was time to give the fox a name. They called him Shadow, a reference to his gorgeous pelt! The calm and friendly creature was a hit among the wildlife center staff members. They were fond of him, but they had a lot of questions about him.
A Fox Called Shadow
Where Did It Come From?
For starters, where did he come from? Shadow was much tamer than usual, despite the fact that these animals are frequently bred for their beautiful pelts. Employees interpreted this to mean he was a pet. Who was his owner, though?
Where Did It Come From?
Trying To Find Its Owner
It was not like there were plenty of ways to get to the backyard they found him in. Shadow probably escaped from his owner or had been abandoned. It was clear to the members of the staff that he was domesticated.
Trying To Find Its Owner
Trained Well
He would not have been this composed if he hadn’t been in this situation. Shadow was successfully taught to allow humans to approach him because wild foxes are usually afraid of humans.
Trained Well
Looking For Clues
They wanted to see if he had a microchip on him, but Shadow was not wearing his collar. Many pets have one of those so that the owner can find them if the animals get lost. After scanning him, they did not find a microchip anywhere. The only thing that they could do was to post his picture on the internet and hope for the best.
Looking For Clues
A Very Rare Find
Even though he was rather chubby, Shadow was in good shape. In fact, the staff members were shocked when they met him. Lee Stewart is the manager at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre. He said that Shadow “is the first silver fox we have ever had here at Stapeley Grange, in nearly 25 years, we have been open.”
A Very Rare Find
The Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre
The center has been open for 25 years or so now, and many animals have come through its doors. It handles thousands of animals every single year. They have dealt with injured or orphaned bats, owls, hedgehogs, and even seals! As you can see, it was not like they were new to this job at all.
The Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre
Why They Are So Rare
The truth is that the silver fox is just a variation of the red fox. However, the dark coloring makes them attractive to people in the fur industry. This is the reason a lot of them are bred in captivity. The black and silver fur is a recessive trait, so they are scarce. In the wild, they breed with other foxes too.
Why They Are So Rare
They Are Not Good Pets
There is a good reason we generally do not have pet foxes. For one thing, they are wild animals. While they can be trained to a certain extent, they were not domesticated in the same way that dogs and cats have been. Humans typically take care of foxes that are going through rehabilitation programs. Even though they can be loving, they are generally aloof creatures that do not show much affection.
They Are Not Good Pets
They Can Be Destructive
When you enter the home of someone who has a fox, you will notice a strong smell right away. The musky aroma is another clue that an animal is wild. People with foxes also complain that they tend to destroy various items in the house. Do not be shocked if a fox rips up anything that it gets its paws on.
They Can Be Destructive
Not Aggressive
Foxes are not violent toward human beings, but if they feel so threatened, they will lash out or bite. As you might imagine, raising a small child with a fox in the house is not a good idea.
Not Aggressive
Rehabilitating Them
The RSPCA wants people to know that they should not keep foxes as pets. It said, “Foxes are wild animals; their needs are particular and require specialist care.” Those who look after these creatures are extremely fond of them, however. Many rescue centers plan to send them back into the wilderness once they have recovered from their injuries. They generally do not treat foxes as pets.
Rehabilitating Them
The Fate Of Shadow
It was not hard to tell that Shadow had spent a lot of time with humans in the past. Sadly, it means that he would not have a lot of luck in the wild. There was a slim chance that he could survive on his own out there. It also meant that the Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre had to figure out what to do with him!
The Fate Of Shadow
His New Home
Since they failed to locate the owner, they had to find a new forever home for Shadow. The plan is to transfer the fox to a place where his needs would be met, just like how he found home on his previous owner.
His New Home
Special Treatment
These creatures, which require a lot of space to roam, require specialized caretakers. Furthermore, they provide foxes with the medical care and diet that they require in captivity.
Special Treatment
Taking Care Of Them
You can relax because there are enough people to care for foxes in the United Kingdom. Animal lovers like Richard Bowler adore the charm of the mischievous predators.
Taking Care Of Them
Captivating
The wildlife photographer fell in love with them while on assignment. “The first time you get a fox in your lens, there is just something about it,” he shared with The Telegraph. He continued, “When you get to know foxes, it’s almost like you can read their moods. They almost talk to you with their vocalizations.”
Captivating
Fascinating But Polarizing
But what is it about the fox that piques the curiosity of all of us? Just about everyone else admires their craftiness, but farmers view these creatures as nuisances since they always attack the livestock.
Fascinating But Polarizing
Can Easily Adapt
These animals can adapt as needed. This is not always a good thing. In the 19th century, they were taken to Australia for hunting. As invasive species, they reproduced quickly and unbalanced the local ecosystem!
Can Easily Adapt
The Fennec Fox
When people think of foxes, they immediately think of the red fox. However, there are various kinds in different parts of the globe. We have the fennec fox, which lives in the Sahara Desert. It can stay cool in the heat thanks to its huge ears, full of blood vessels.
The Fennec Fox
Can Survive All Climates
The blood flows there and cools down as it travels away from the core. The furry skin of this animal, on the other hand, keeps it warm when the temperature dips. As you can see, it can survive even one of the most brutal climates on the planet.
Can Survive All Climates
The Grey Fox
The photo below shows us the Canid, which is found in Central and North America. It is great at climbing, unlike other foxes out there. Aside from that, it eats birds, rabbits, rodents, insects, and fruits.
The Grey Fox
They’re Monogamous
They tend to create dens in logs and rocky crevices. There are even times when they use woodchuck holes for this purpose in the mating season or cubs. Fun fact: grey foxes are normally monogamous!
They’re Monogamous
The Arctic Fox
We are sure that you can guess where the Arctic Fox comes from. The white foxes can survive below freezing temperatures and feed on voles and lemmings. They display amusing hunting behavior like leaping in the air and landing in the snow when they have their eyes on the prize.
The Arctic Fox
What Happens When It’s Not Winter Season
When it is not winter, they gather food by scavenging leftovers of bigger predators. They also gather and store geese eggs for food in the winter. They indeed look so pretty and flawless!
What Happens When It’s Not Winter Season
Foxes In Greek Mythology
The fox is used as a symbol for various things in folklore and mythology. In the Greek pantheon, there is the Teumessian fox. Dionysus sent the giant fox to punish people for a crime that they committed. Amphitryon, together with his hunting dog called Laelaps, were deployed to hunt it down.
Foxes In Greek Mythology
Teumessian Fox
The dog was talented at capturing pretty but found it impossible to contain the Teumessian fox. It drew Zeus’s attention, who turned both creatures to constellations: the Canis Minor and the Canis Major.
Teumessian Fox
Foxes In Chinese Mythology
There is also the nine-tailed fox or fox spirit in ancient Chinese mythology. It is a mischievous shapeshifter that uses the form of a gorgeous woman to lure in men and use their energy.
Foxes In Chinese Mythology
Can Mean Good And Bad
However, it is not always evil! There are also stories depicting them as helpful and generous when dealing with humans. They can be both bad or good omens in Chinese culture.
Can Mean Good And Bad