In my area, foxes have become like postmen. They dart into the front garden, sniff out some food and then pop into the house next door. People tend to dislike foxes for some reason, as if we are all farmers who have been wronged by these creatures. Leave them alone! If we hadn’t destroyed their home, they wouldn’t be wandering around the streets in the dark of night getting their heads stuck in little tubs.
That is exactly what happened to a poor fox which decided to explore my garden. I came back from college and walked into the kitchen to see my mum and brother standing by the kitchen window watching a fox which had its head buried inside a tub. The poor thing was stuck! Imagine a tub in which protein shakes usually come in and then you’ll be able to visualise this scene. It had been thrashing about for the past half-hour but now had given up and was completely still. Had it died? No, its body was rising with every breath it took.
My mum was terribly afraid of the fox and was on the phone to my aunt so the fear factor was intensified even further. However, I like foxes. Don’t ask me why, they just seem like a clever bunch who are just looking out for themselves. Perhaps I’ve been influenced by Roald Dahl alot. So I couldn’t stand to see the creature just lying there as if it had given up on life. My mum said wait for the RSPCA, as if a fox is their primary concern. My aunty was yelling down the line, just leave it!
I opened the garden door, wearing my new leather gloves and approached the still fox. Feeling slightly nervous and unsure about what to do, I knelt down beside it and saw it was well and truly stuck. Whatever oxygen was in that tub must be close to running out. Gingerly, I placed my hand on it and tried to pull the tub off its head which was like playing tug of war with a kid, I didn’t want to hurt the poor thing but had to do something! It wasn’t really working and my mum was shouting through the window as if the fox was about to jump up and bite me through the tub. I went back inside and watched it for a few minutes wondering what to do. I told my brother to come outside with me and help hold the fox down while I pull the tub off.
So attempt number two. I think it had realised that we were trying to help it so it didn’t move when I stroked its warm fur. I applied more pressure amidst my mum’s panicked incoherent yelling but she began to calm down when she took her phone out to video us. Slowly the tub was easing off the fox’s head and its neck was revealed. The fur was damp with blood and as the tub began to come off, I felt proud that I was actually going to save this poor animal. Yes, it was someone’s fault for leaving that container in the garden but how were they to know a nosy fox would come poking around?
As it came off, my mum was shouting at us to come inside so I thought I’d pull it off until it can shake it off and in that instant, jump back into the kitchen.
That didn’t work. I’d left it on a bit too tight so went back outside, told myself to be brave and pulled the tob off till it was just convering it’s nose and then made the mad dash into the kitchen to stop my mum having a heart attack.
If I was hoping for some magical moment between me and the fox, I was to be disappointed. It stood up slightly unsteadily, glanced around and with a flick of its tail leapt onto the fence and vanished from sight.
It was an amazing moment however, never before had I touched a fox and I was glad it had been okay.
My mum later told me she had not actually recorded my ‘heroic’ deed as she hadn’t pressed record.
Such is life.
Oh, too bad, I was actually looking forward to a video. I’ve seen other videos on FB where the same type of things have happened, people rescuing deer stuck on ice; a fox stuck in a fence; baby bears stuck in a large garbage container; so many more. Most critters pretty much know when they’re being helped, so instinctively don’t attack. I’m glad it worked out okay for the two of you.
LikeLike
When I realised it hadn’t been recorded, I just stood there and stared at my mum with my mouth open!
Wow, we don’t see much wild animals in London so the fox was a big deal to us, thank you! And thank you on behalf of the Fox, I think I can speak for it now that I saved it, right? π
LikeLike
Yep!
LikeLike
that was brave of you to do !! glad there still are some himans with real humanity in this cold world, i personaly dont like destroying animals except for cockroaches and spiders !! congrats on your big none-captured moment.
LikeLike
Haha thank you!
Yes we can make exceptions for those two and other creepy crawlies. Bears, tigers, lions, foxes and cats must be protected but creepy crawlies? Errr I’ll leave that to someone else to do!
LikeLike
Haha agreed ! ( especially Cats *_* – a must – )
LikeLike
Well I presonally prefer foxes as you can tell..
LikeLike
Oh yes haha i just read a post about them … π nice blog by the way.
LikeLike
Lol….thanks alot π
LikeLike
Brave soul!
And awwwww!!! Also; hello Mother of Worried Student *waves hello* π
She’s awesome! Yeah she didn’t record it but that doesn’t matter at all; we’ve all a great mental image of said epic scenario! π
LikeLike
Haha π She is oookay π Awesome would have to mean she recorded it π
LikeLike
Nonetheless; she’s STILL COOOOOOL!!!!
π
LikeLike
No, nope, nada!
LikeLike
Grrrr! *sides with mama of worried student*
NO SAMOSA FOR YOU
LikeLike
Grrr fine! π
LikeLike
Food. WINS EVERYTIME!
(Hahaha DW, you’re just as awesome!)
LikeLike
Yes it does sadly.
Thank you thank you!
LikeLike
That’s awesome. Foxes are interesting creatures. I love seeing them in the wild, which happens occasionally around here.
LikeLike
They are amazing creatures and I would always get excited as a child to see them running around in the night. Now I feel sorry for them at the same time, knowing we have forced many of them out of their natural habitat.
LikeLike
You should be really proud of yourself!
LikeLike
I admit, I was pretty chuffed at the time. It felt a bit unreal, even though it was a fox and not something like a bear.
LikeLike
What a grand thing to do and at least you have recorded it in words.
LikeLike
Thank you π Yes, written down in history!
LikeLike