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The death of a fox cub (Lounged)

MadWorld74

By MadWorld74
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MadWorld74

MadWorld74

Posted
Posted

This thread is very sad and I am still upset writing it, but have to tell you all.


In the small wee hours this morning, I was woken by a noise in the back garden. I got up and saw from the bedroom window and very small fox cub roaming about the garden. It stayed for quite a while and was not frightened by the sound of me raising the blinds to get a better look at it. Then it disappeared into the darkness and I went back to bed.


Later this morning, I again was woken up,but by a horrible whimpering noise. I went out into the back to have a look and heard a mixture of rasping, barking like sounds, along with this awful pitiful whimpering.


I presumed that it was the cub and ascertained the noise was coming from under the decking. It must have gotten under through the gap between the tree and the deck.


I called the RSPCA and they logged the call but could not tell me when they were likely to turn up. In the mean time I kept watch in the back garden. After about an hour and a half's wait I called The Fox Project who are based in Kent but have volunteers working all over London. (They have a volunteer in Dulwich as well). Luckily one of their staff was in the South London area and agreed to come over and help. Within about 20 minutes the lady from TFP arrived and we went to work trying to get the fox out from under the decking.


I had to call the landlord who came round with a power drill to get loose the wooden slats. After the three of us had frantically pulled apart the decking, we saw the cub.


It was the worst thing I have seen in my life. The sound of it's crying was so upsetting, all of us were in tears. He was so young that he had only just left the safety of the lair to start out life on his own in the big bad world. August apparently is cub season, when the babies go out to fend for themselves.


He was lifted up, wrapped in a towel and placed in a crate. The lady from TFP gave him some pain relief and she took him off the a local vet.


Unfortunately 40 mins later she called to say that the cub had passed away on route to the vets.


The vet examined the cub and it died as a result of liver failure. It had been poisoned.


This is where I have to take a deep breath and say, that a few weeks back I did put down some poison to get rid of a rat that had been getting very brave coming up to the back door in the back garden. However, I can say that although in hindsight I should not have killed that rat, the bait I put down was 'animal' friendly and would not have been harmful to cats, dogs or foxes. Believe me, when I heard it was poison that killed the cub, I fell apart. After showing the lady from the TFP where I had put rat poison down, she assured me that nothing larger than a mouse/rate could have gotten to the bait. I still feel awful though.


So please people, if you have to put bait out, not only for the plethora of cats that seem to live in ED, please for the sake of the cubs that will be leaving the lairs from now onwards, use cages that can trap mice and rats, alive. Then dispose of them in the park. there's no need for anything to die.


If you could have heard it crying for it's mother, you would understand how awful any form of bait/traps are. I know we don't like mice and rats running about the place but, please.


All I can hear is it cry and all I can see is it's little body laying helplessly in pain.


Numbers: RSPCA Cruelty line: 0300 1234 999 RSPCA Advice line: 0300 1234 555 The Fox Project: 01892 824111

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Sue

Sue

Posted
Posted

Please don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault.


In the country at night, you can en hear small creatures squealing as they are carried off by owls etc.. and sometimes in the daytime too.


I had a bird of prey make off with a screaming starling in my garden in ED.


I know it's upsetting to witness, but basically animals kill each other. It doesn't sound like it was your rat poison that did it.

first mate

first mate

Posted
Posted

What an upsetting experience. I agree that using poison should be avoided. A very nasty, slow, death. Call me soft but I don't even like to think of a rat dying that way.


The cub may have ingested a poisonous plant, causing liver failure. He may have had a dodgy liver anyway. So don't beat yourself up about it.


Lots of things we use in our daily livesd are highly toxic to animals and it's worth being aware of them.

Tony.London Suburbs

Tony.London Suburbs

Posted
Posted

Its heartwarming to know that someone cares enough to try to rescue the Cub and write the above,as well.

Its very sad when we lose any living thing(except ruddy slugs) and its re-assurring to realise people who care are still around.Well done MadWorld..and Thanks for caring M8....

EDmummy

EDmummy

Posted
Posted
What a truly heart rending experience. Whatever any one's opinion on how native animals live their life (and I am completely with the naturalists here) it is always sad. A few weeks ago a large number of crows were chasing a wounded seagull down our street. I couldn't watch as they bought it down further on, it broke my heart, but I also realised there was nothing I could do. You may be feeling guilty because it is your decking but it could have happened anywhere.
Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy

Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy

Posted
Posted
Call me soft but I don't even like to think of a rat dying that way.


If you've ever had rats, believe me you lie in bed praying that they die that way


A few weeks ago a large number of crows were chasing a wounded seagull down our street. I couldn't watch as they bought it down further on, it broke my heart, but I also realised there was nothing I could do. You may be feeling guilty because it is your decking but it could have happened anywhere.


Are these local gangs? Best not to get involved, even the young ones are carrying shivs and shanks, and sometimes even knives.

DeptfordDiva

DeptfordDiva

Posted
Posted
MW74, you could also have called the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, altho we dont specialize in foxes, we have been called out to quite a few, and we are local. What a sad, sad story. I rescued a fox cub last year that was running across the busy Stanstead Road in Catford one night - it was all alone and narrowly avoided being squashed. I put some cat food in a basket and he just walked in and i closed the door on him. I took him back to our clinic, named him Georgie, took photos that are still on my phone and Fox Project came and picked him up next day. Since working at the trust my philosophy has to be - you cant save them all - but i know how distressing it is when you cant save one. Chin up - you did your best.
candj

candj

Posted
Posted

Dear MadWorld74,


Your post brought tears to my eyes some 5,000 miles away. I'm sorry you went through this as it would be very very upsetting, but like another poster said don't beat yourself up over it the fox cub could have had a dodgy liver to begin with. I'm very torn by foxes because they are indeed everywhere but we as people continue to encroach on their habitat and provide them with food/rubbish.


And don't listen (read) to the other stupid comments that people post because they think it's funny.


Best wishes,


-C

Pierre

Pierre

Posted
Posted

oh heck, OK I'll rise to it.


I appreciate that I'm only entitled to (just looking up number of posts) 74/1308th of your opinion, apparently, but do you not see the inconsistency in your story?


You're clearly not averse to killing animals. Rat poison to "get rid" of rats doesn't politely ask rats to leave the area, it kills them.


So was your heartbreak because it was an ickle baby fox cub? Would you have been less upset if it was a fully grown mangy grubby urban fox that had been pulling apart your bin bags, urinating on your garden plants, killing your neighbours' rabbit and loudly mating under your window at 3am?



: P

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