Animal rescue may be tough and distressing.
Occasionally, an unusual position traps the animal in question. It’s usually a tree, but it may also be a thorny shrub; in the worst-case scenario, infant animals have slipped away from their moms and wound up in exceedingly tight confines.
Persistence, precision, and care are required in these uncomfortable circumstances.
This may explain why firefighters excel at assisting stranded animals.
Brian Vaughan, a fire captain, got an alarm call in 2018 and recognized the gravity of the situation.
Someone found eight little black dog puppies stranded in a sewer hole. The callers feared that their owners had abandoned a litter of black Labrador pups in the pipe.
These firefighters in rescued what they thought were puppies from a storm drain… but it turns out they’re red foxes!
What to do now?
Reporter @AbeytaCBS4 shares the story: https://t.co/ubpMJjjj8h
(📹: Colorado Springs Fire Department) pic.twitter.com/Mksg0A0IJH— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) March 16, 2018
Twenty minutes after the fire department came, all of the animals had been safely rescued from the sewer. They seemed unhurt and were sent to the Humane Rescue Organization in the Pikes Peak Region.
It was only then that they realized they had not spared any dog puppies at all. In reality, the black puppies had turned into a bundle of crimson.
“One of the vets at the place said, ‘No, these are not labradors; they’re foxes,'” Vaughan told CBS in Denver.
Foxes are highly frequent in the areas surrounding the Rocky Mountains, where this litter was discovered.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Manager, Travis Sauder, told CBS4 that he does not find the firefighters’ call surprising. Not that the foxes were discovered in the first place.
“During this time of year, many animals begin to give birth to their young in small dens, which are locations we might encounter while enjoying outdoor recreation,” according to Sauder.
According to Sauder, the foxes will be transported back to the pipe in the hopes that their mother will return to care for them.
“These animals will be returned to where they were found, with the hope that the mother is still in the region and can resume her regular tasks. “If the mother is no longer present, we can take them to a licensed rehabilitation facility,” Sauder stated.
Misunderstandings involving animals are not commonplace; thus, it is always best to consult an expert to identify the animal in question before attempting to act on your own. Unfortunately, noble intentions may occasionally make matters worse for wild animals in situations like this one.
Hopefully, the fox cubs will be reunited with their mother before long. If you appreciate animals of all types, please like and share!