Baby Gray Fox Survives Cold Water Swim
Rescuer Matt took this video of the fox kit on his family's swim mat as they waited for transportation to WildCare.
Cold and bedraggled, the kit is lucky to have found the floating swim mat in the otherwise impossible to escape lagoon! Photo by Matt Reeder
The weeks-old Gray Fox kit was probably playing with siblings near their den when he took a frightening tumble into a man-made lagoon in Stinson Beach, California.
The baby couldn’t scale the steep concrete walls, so escape was impossible.
He must have been paddling and trying to get out of the water for a while, and with each passing minute, he got colder and weaker.
Fortunately one of the homes encircling the lagoon had a floating swim mat tethered to the dock.
The baby fox pulled himself onto the mat and crouched, shivering, bedraggled and listless.
The homeowner Matt was outside in his yard when he glanced down at the water and happened to see the small, furry body collapsed on his swim mat.
The little fox did his best to hide under the dock when he became aware of Matt's presence, but he couldn't get very far under the dock and his shivering rear end and soaking wet tail were still visible. Matt was able to nudge him back out into the sunlight, which helped to warm the little animal while Matt called Marin Humane for help to transport the fox to WildCare's Wildlife Hospital.
This video shows the fox kit's intake exam. He's chilled and exhausted but otherwise healthy!
WildCare's veterinarian Dr. Sorem gives the fox kit his daily antibiotic. You can tell it doesn't taste very good, but it's good for him!
Once he was at WildCare, our Medical Staff was very pleased to see that this little fox seemed to be already recovering from his cold and wet ordeal!
A weight check confirmed that his separation from his family was recent (his weight was good), and an exam confirmed that he had no injuries. They put him on a course of antibiotics to counteract pneumonia after his long and exhausting swim, and placed him in a warm kennel for the night.
The next day showed even more improvement, and the kit even growled at Med Staff when they came to feed him! Unfortunately we have no idea where his den is in the area surrounding the lagoon, so we are not able to reunite him with his family.
After remaining in care at WildCare for several days to complete his course of antibiotics and confirm he is now healthy, we transferred him to our sister center, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, where he will grow up with other Gray Foxes until he's ready to return to the wild.
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How wonderful to show video from the beginning to the end
Thank you soo much for saving that baby kit fox!!
I felt so sorry for him paddling in the cold water to stay alive.
Thank you and I am sorry he could not be returned to his family but hopefully, he will grow up safely and live a good life!!
Oh my gosh, thank-you for the whole story. We are so blessed to have Wildcare and people who are concerned conscious citizens to rescue him originally. He is so adorable.
AMEN! GOD BLESS ALL THE ANIMALS…..AND ALL THE ANGEL PEOPLE WHO RESCUE THEM!!
What is “The Rest of Story?” Who or what agency is responsible for that ‘man made lagoon?’ Have they been contacted and story explained so there is a plan to create a ramp that another animal can use to get out when this might happen again‼️ It’s wonderful to save but even better to prevent‼️ I would like to see Wildcare give us The rest of the story❗️
Thanks Mary! It’s an excellent question! We are in contact with the homeowner and with the association to get the word out about the need for ramps or other escape options for animals in that lagoon. We’ll keep you updated!
Sorry I missed your comment earlier 🙂 Alison
So glad someone saw this cold little guy & got him to safety.
You should name him Phelps. 🙂 How wonderful and inspiring. Bless the family who rescued this little guy. And thank you for the work @Wildcare.
Thank you for taking care of this little guy, and all that you do!