Five fox cubs delivered at Surrey wildlife hospital after dramatic rescue

A dramatic rescue by a wildlife charity in Surrey has led to the delivery of five fox cubs. The tiny bundles of joy were born by C-section at a local animal hospital.

Rescuers from the Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF) veterinary hospital in Leatherhead were called to a road traffic accident in Byfleet and found a female fox lying in the road. She was in a very bad state, with serious head injuries. They later discovered she was also heavily pregnant. Sadly in the next few hours her condition deteriorated and it was decided to deliver the babies by Caesarean section, in the knowledge that Mum would have to be quietly put to sleep as soon as the babies were delivered.

After a very critical hour, the veterinary team managed to revive all five cubs. Staff are now working around the clock, to hand-rear the cubs and will care for them for the next six months.

This is the first time the WAF hospital has ever performed a C-section and probably the first example of a multiple fox cub C-section at any wildlife hospital. Staff say foxes normally mate in December/January and give birth in February/March. So for a fox to give birth in January is extremely early. WAF is urging people to be vigilant for signs of wildlife struggling and to call the charity for advice if you see anything unusual.

Senior vet nurse Lucy Kells says: “I am incredibly sad and disappointed that we could not save the Mum. From the moment we admitted her she was our absolute priority, but in the last 24 hours the cubs have become our priority and we have had to put our own emotions aside and carry on for their sake. But the feeling, when all five babies started breathing, was indescribable. It has made all the heartache worthwhile.”

The Wildlife Aid Foundation is one of the UK’s largest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charities. Its veterinary hospital in Leatherhead deals with over 20,000 wildlife incidents every year.