An unfortunate fox that lodged its head in a sink drain has been successfully rescued in the UK.
South Essex Wildlife Hospital in the southeast of England responded to a call last week regarding a curious cub that had become stuck in an unusual place.
Tom Linsel, a Slovakia-born veterinarian who works at the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, arrived on the scene and found the poor fox had been trapped there for several hours. It had also cut its paws while struggling to free itself.
With “a little wiggling and patience,” the rescue centre wrote on Facebook, the fox was set free. The animal was rushed back to the hospital where its paw was treated before receiving a course of medication to help ease the swelling.
“The cub is fine and has since been released back to its den in the garden it was found,” a spokesperson for the South Essex Wildlife Hospital told IFLScience.
Working hard to free the young fox.
Image courtesy of South Essex Wildlife Hospital
If you wish to help support the work of South Essex Wildlife Hospital, consider giving them a donation at https://southessexwildlife.org/donate.
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are common in the UK, as well as large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere including North America, Asia, and Europe, as well as parts of North Africa. They have also been introduced to Australia, where they are considered a major damaging invasive species.
Intelligent and adaptable, the species are happy to live in an array of habitats, from rural countryside to bustling cities. Urban living has it advantages, like plenty of food to scavenge and lots of places to shelter, although it does come with challenges – such as getting heads stuck in drains.
Interestingly, foxes that live in urban environments have adapted to become more similar to pet dogs as they adapt to the pressures of city life. Compared to country bumpkins, urban foxes have significantly longer, thinner snouts and smaller craniums. Scientists think this might be a sign of “domestication syndrome,” a collection of traits that arise during domestication, including smaller brains, coat color changes, reductions in tooth size, and changes in craniofacial shape.
In short, urban foxes are becoming more domesticated just like a pet dog.
Source Link: Curious Fox Cub Rescued After Getting Head Stuck In A Sink Drain
