“[She] was given a second chance at life.”
Last August, the team at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) received an urgent call that set a rescue mission in motion. A local resident had reported an “elusive creature” wandering her Lancaster, Pennsylvania, neighborhood for several weeks — and the animal appeared to be in distress.
“The finders, Dee and several of her neighbors, noticed that the fox was thin and showed signs of mange,” RRWC shared in a Facebook post.
For weeks, Dee and her neighbors tried unsuccessfully to catch the sick fox. Finally, after many attempts, they managed to corner her safely and called RRWC for help.
When rescuers arrived, they confirmed what the residents had suspected: the fox was in much worse condition than they’d imagined.
“Upon examination, we discovered that the fox was in worse condition than we had anticipated,” the team wrote. “While we hoped for a full recovery, we knew her rehabilitation would take time and careful care.”
The poor fox was suffering from severe mange — a parasitic skin disease that can be fatal if untreated in the wild.
“The best way to help a fox with mange is to trap it and bring it to a licensed rehabilitator,” RRWC explained. “Mange cases often need much more than topical treatment — open wounds require medical care, pain management, antibiotics, and help for dehydration and malnutrition.”
At RRWC, the fox finally found safety, warmth, and a quiet place to heal. The staff ensured her enclosure was clean and comfortable as her fur began to grow back and her strength slowly returned.
After seven weeks of dedicated care, the day everyone had hoped for finally came — the fox was healthy enough to go home.
“This fox displayed such a distinct personality throughout her recovery,” the RRWC team shared. “On release day, her joy was unmistakable.”
The fox bounded out of her crate, tail high and eyes bright, exploring the familiar woods she once called home. Before disappearing into the trees, she turned toward her rescuers as if to say a grateful goodbye.
For the RRWC staff, watching her run free again was the perfect ending to weeks of worry and hard work.
“Trapping and treating foxes with mange takes time, patience, and teamwork,” RRWC wrote. “Thanks to everyone’s dedication, this little fox got her second chance at life.”