Animal mix-ups are a strange– and sometimes hilarious– part of wildlife rehabilitation. Here in Chattanooga, we’ve had calls about foxes that turned out to be coyotes, squirrels that were actually raccoons, and my personal favorite: a hawk that couldn’t fly, which was actually somebody’s pet chicken. Colorado Springs rehabilitators got to deal with a similarContinue reading “Firefighters Rescue “Puppies” That Are Actually Foxes”
Tag Archives: wildlife rescue
“Coats for Cubs” Gives Fur Back to Animals
In 2019, For Fox Sake will be participating in the Coats for Cubs program organized by Buffalo Exchange! There’s no way to give fur back to the animal that was born wearing it, but this program is certainly a step in the right direction. When orphaned animals arrive at rehabilitation facilities, they’re often very scaredContinue reading ““Coats for Cubs” Gives Fur Back to Animals”
Why Do You Rescue Vermin?
It’s an understandable question. To someone who’s had their attic destroyed by raccoons or their chickens tormented by foxes, the goals of For Fox Sake can seem unreasonable– or even downright irresponsible. So why rehabilitate animals that aren’t endangered? For Fox Sake handles skunks, foxes, and raccoons, which, in our state, are categorized as rabiesContinue reading “Why Do You Rescue Vermin?”
A peaceful end for suffering wildlife
Some wildlife rescues choose not to share stories about animals that can’t be saved, because they don’t want to upset the public. While I respect that, I believe there’s bittersweet beauty in all we do, even in the cases that end in death. The reality is that most of the calls I’ve received this yearContinue reading “A peaceful end for suffering wildlife”
Wild Animals Don’t Need Love
Good people, with good intentions, sentence animals to death every day with improper care. It’s terrible not just because the animals suffer, but because their well-meaning caregivers suffer, too. Rehabilitating wildlife properly takes more than just love and dedication, and more than you can learn from a weekend crash-course on Google. To actually thrive onContinue reading “Wild Animals Don’t Need Love”
Dealing with Zombie Raccoons
Zombie raccoons aren’t rare. You may see a raccoon that is staggering, grunting, standing on its hind legs, and periodically collapsing into an unresponsive coma. It may even have glowing green eyes that appear blind. It looks terrifying, but there’s no need to hoard canned food and ammo. This “zombie syndrome” is caused by canineContinue reading “Dealing with Zombie Raccoons”
Found A Baby Raccoon? Don’t Touch!
Every year, wildlife rehabilitators, game wardens, and veterinarians are forced to euthanize hundreds of healthy raccoons. In most parts of the country, raccoons are considered rabies vector species. This does not mean that it is likely that they have rabies; only that they are at a greater risk than, say, a rabbit or goat. BecauseContinue reading “Found A Baby Raccoon? Don’t Touch!”
Grey Fox or Coyote Pup?
Grey foxes are sometimes killed because of a case of mistaken identity. This shy and elusive animal may look similar to a coyote pup at first glance, but can be distinguished by its very long tail with a black tip, its orange ears, and a black stripe that runs down most of its body. TheyContinue reading “Grey Fox or Coyote Pup?”
I Found a Fawn! What now?
Babies like this are often kidnapped by well-meaning people who mistake them for orphans, but this baby doesn’t need help. Mother deer will often leave their babies alone for up to several hours a day, often hidden in underbrush, tall grass, or leaves. The fawn knows to lie down and be very still, to avoidContinue reading “I Found a Fawn! What now?”
Found a Dead Opossum? Check its Pouch!
Car collisions are a leading cause of death for adult opossums. When an opossum is terrified, it enters an involuntary comatose state (“playing possum”) and freezes in place. This is great for dissuading predators, but evolution didn’t prepare the opossum for automobiles. The good news is that, if you see a dead opossum, it mightContinue reading “Found a Dead Opossum? Check its Pouch!”
For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue 