Tiny orphaned fox cub rescued from busy Leeds path after being abandoned by mother

The three-week-old cub was found on a path at the side of Wyke Beck, near Levens Close, on Tuesday March 16 by a woman who lives nearby.

She was concerned that the mother fox was not around and thought her den had been disturbed, so she alerted the RSPCA.

The area is frequented by young people at night, the woman said, some of them with dogs - so she was concerned the cub would be harmed.

Animal rescue officer Ollie Wilkes was called out to collect the cub and transferred the animal to the charity's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich.

Ollie said: “The person found the cub on a path and there was no sign of the mother. Often in these circumstances the mother will have been moving the cubs to another location and may drop them but they usually return to collect them.

“The woman waited to see if she was around but she didn’t appear and she was concerned that the den had been disturbed.

“She was also worried as youths meet in that area in the evening and some have dogs so she didn’t want any harm to come to the cub and called us.”

The cub will now be cared for at the RSPCA centre where she will be fed puppy milk until she is strong enough to eat solids.

Once she is independent she will be released back into the wild.

What should you do if you spot a fox cub on its own?

Lee Stewart, manager at Stapeley Grange, said: “We are so grateful to any member of the public that takes the time to contact us about animals they fear need help.

“However, it is important to remember that not all young animals need rescuing and many would be better off being left where they are and monitored for as long as possible as the parents are usually nearby.

“Our advice is that if you see a lone baby wild animal, unless they are obviously injured or in immediate danger from predators or traffic, monitor the situation from afar as they may not need rescuing.

"Young animals have a much greater chance of survival if they remain with their mothers.

“If you find a fox cub on their own and their eyes are open, the cub is probably fine – the parents will usually be nearby. Leave a supply of dog food and water nearby and check again after 24 hours.

"If the cub is in immediate danger – on a road or somewhere very exposed – safely move the cub to a sheltered, safe spot nearby, handling the cub as little as possible.”

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