• Wildlife Rescue Cork (WRC) is a registered charity (RCN: 20205803). WRC was set up “to rescue, rehabilitate injured or orphaned wildlife in Cork and surrounding counties”, and with the sole purpose of releasing them back into the wild once successfully recovered. All our actions are geared towards these goals. We are 100% run by volunteers •
For all the Latest News please follow our Social Media Pages Below
• Foxes •
• General Information •
• Foxes are highly intelligent, fascinating creatures that are incredibly similar in behaviour and personality to our own dogs. You will often catch them playing with dog toys left in the garden •
• Foxes get a bad rap from some corners of society. Foxes are blamed for the predation of many animals from domestic to agricultural. While there is no doubt they will kill and eat livestock such as chickens (when they are roaming around free and not protected), other animals such as dogs and mink cause huge damage and foxes regularly get the blame for all of it •
• The reason many foxes come into conflict with humans is loss of habitat, crossing roads, hunting incidents, snares, orphaned and poisoned •
• Believe it or not foxes are classed as ‘pest’ species and so have no protection from the law •
• Unfortunately, across Ireland hunters go out with packs of dogs, horses and chase foxes to exhaustion and allow the dogs to kill the fox. This is still going on today •
• Whilst I understand the need to protect assets such as livestock and understand fully shooting a predator that is a repeat offender, I would suggest it is unnecessary to hunt using dogs. Foxes help control the local vermin population •
• ALWAYS get advice before handling a fox. If it’s necessary to move the fox use a thick towel and gardening gloves. Cover the head and place into a pet transport box with a towel on the bottom for grip. Get it to a vet or rehabber ASAP. Do not be tempted to care for it yourself •
• Common injuries seen at WRC •
• Road traffic injuries, including broken bones, head trauma •
• Orphaned. Mothers go out to forage daily and a number of things can happen to her when out. If she doesn’t return starving cubs come out in search of her, looking for help •
• Mothers use a few dens in case one is not safe, they can move cubs but only one at a time. Sometimes she will drop one halfway and go back for the others, always watch from a good distance to see if she returns for it. Be mindful that if she sees or smell you, she will stay away. Get advice from a rehabber before taking the cub •
• Foxes as pets?????? •
• Foxes are very much like dogs and can be easily ‘domesticated’. This may not be the best for them. Many people find orphaned cubs and keep them as pets. As they grow older, they become unruly house guests and the reality of a cute ‘pet fox’ sinks in. As much as they behave like dogs, they have a natural wild instinct to go and explore and dig holes and live their life. They also give off a strong smell. Many people then release these domesticated foxes ‘into the wild’ thinking they are doing a great thing but it is a death sentence. They have no idea how to get food or water or shelter having lived with you providing it for them all the time. They will starve, get hit by cars or be easily hunted •
• IF you find any wild animal needing help. Do not be tempted to keep it. Get help from a rehabber straight away •
• While it seems like a lovely idea, they are not good pets generally. They are more destructive than dogs, they will pee on literally everything in the house, repeatedly, to claim it as their own. We do not recommend it •
• Keeping wild/exotic animals in general is really difficult, meeting all their needs and ensuring they are not exhibiting any stereotypical behaviours from wanting to be free •
