Good Samaritan in Phoenix Rescues 'Kittens' In Adorable Case of Mistaken Identity
Last week a person in the Phoenix, Arizona area discovered what they thought to be an abandoned litter of kittens behind their shed and brought the babies into the Arizona Humane Society.
After examining the babies, they were discovered to not actually be kittens at all.
The Arizona Humane Society posted on Facebook, in part, Last week a Good Samaritan found a den of babies behind their shed. Not knowing what to do, they brought them to AHS where our veterinary team quickly determined these were not domestic pets! These adorable Grey Foxes were transferred to our friends at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center where they will be rehabilitated and released to the wild when they grow old enough. "
Related: Woman Gets Shock of Her Life While Caring for Injured 'Baby Hedgehog'
ABC15 spoke to Kim Carr, the Animal Care Manager at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, who was hilariously quoted as saying, "And it turned out they were grey foxes, which didn't surprise me — they both look like brown blobs when they're little." Cutest little brown blobs ever!
As tempting as it is to try and save abandoned baby animals, and I get it, I'd be the first one wanting to grab the raccoon or deer or fox I found, it's usually best to follow protocols to keep wild animals safe.
What To Do If You Find 'Abandoned' Wild Animals
If you discover wild animals you think are abandoned the best thing to do in this situation is nothing.
More times than not the mama is nearby and possibly getting food for her babies and if you disturb them you risk either separating the babies from their mom, or scaring the mother away.
You can observe from a safe distance to see if the mom does come back, but if you are very concerned you can contact your local animal control agency, wildlife rehabilitation center, or wildlife rescue organization.
If the abandoned animal is in immediate danger, like if it's close to a busy street or injured, carefully move it to a safe location away from predators, traffic, or other hazards.You can provide it with temporary shelter, like in a cardboard box or storage container with a blanket in it and adequate ventilation, but follow directions from your local wildlife rescue.
As far as Fox kits are concerned, the Humane Society says, "Fox kits will often appear unsupervised for long periods while their parents are out hunting for food. They will play like puppies around the den site until the parents decide they’re old enough to go on hunting trips. Then they will suddenly disappear. Observe the kits from a distance; if they seem energetic and healthy, leave them alone."
When in doubt, just contact your local wildlife center or animal shelter for assistance. As tempting as it is, this is a job best left up to the professionals.
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