The Fox Rescuers is an animal Charity based in Stockport which specialises exclusively in the rescue, rehabilitation and subsequent release of foxes. The rescue is run by Paul McDonald and Carol Gowrie who set up the rescue in June 2019 and who, combined, have over 12 years of hands-on experience with foxes. We offer an emergency helpline for foxes in need of emergency care who fall within our catchment area of the North West and West Midlands, along with an advice line for those outside of that area. For non-emergencies within our catchment we offer a trapping service for foxes with illnesses and injuries which need treatment and veterinary care. The Fox Unit (hospital) itself is based in a converted outbuilding on a piece of land attached to a residential property and is fitted with all the necessary equipment to house and care for 6 adult foxes at any one time, with some overflow accommodation when necessary.
Find out more about usPosted on 29th November 2024
It's been a while since we updated the website, but that isn't to say not a lot has been happening. Over spring/summer 2024 we succesfully rehabilitated and released over 41 orphaned cubs (spread out into 9 groups). These cubs were taken to soft-release locations where pens were set up/released after acclimitising to the area after several weeks in the pens. These sites were spread out from as far as Dumfries in Scotland, to Alderholt in Dorset.
The circumstances that these cubs were found in vary from being found next to their dead mother, to being found wondering in busy roads, approaching people in the street and in one case, Marcus, was handed into a vets suffering with a broken back leg, which had to be pinned. As a result, he had to stay with us until the leg healed, and then he was able to be mixed into a group and released.
Now that all the cubs have been dealt with/released, we're past the dispersal season when cubs are chased from the territories they were born in by their mothers, in order for them to find their own territories, and we approach the mating season at the end of December. The shorter days, combined with cubs dispering, has resulted in a lot of calls about injured and sick juveniles. At the time of writing, we currently have 5 adult/juvenile foxes in our care.
Admittance date: 29th November 2024
Barney was cage-trapped in order to be treated for a nasty case of mange. More information to follow.