Cotswolds: Abandoned fox cubs saved after mum hit by car

The rescue follows the discovery of two orphaned cubs on Tuesday, April 14, who had ventured outside their den after their mother was fatally struck by a car.

Following further discussion, Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue (OWR) decided to return to the undisclosed site in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds with additional resources, including thermal imaging, remote camera equipment and more medics.

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A spokesman said: “We are pleased to inform you all. That after extensive searching, both day and night and the relentless and dedicated professionalism from our wildlife rescue team.

“We have found a total of six cubs, who are safe, warm, fed and are all back together again at our wildlife rescue centre.

“This is an amazing success, and we are all left feeling a sense of achievement and that we have delivered a respectful honour towards the brave and selfless mother.”

One of the volunteers with a rescued fox cub (Image: Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue)

Last week the first cub was in critical condition when found.

A member of the rescue team at the time said the animal “she was clinging onto life with absolutely everything she had left in her”.

They immediately began efforts to save her, providing warmth and oxygen.

The spokesman said: “Time was running out for this little cub.

“Another one appeared, staggering towards the entrance of the den.

“Out of sheer desperation, he surrendered himself to our team in order to get the help he needed.”

The mother fox, found nearby, had been hit by a vehicle.

However, after returning to the den with advanced equipment, the team successfully located four more cubs.

One of the rescued fox cub (Image: Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue)

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All six are now safe, warm, fed and back together at the charity’s rescue centre.

The spokesman said: “Every life is certainly worth fighting for and that wildlife deserves our respect and this dedicated service towards them, especially if we as humans are the main course for their suffering and impediments towards their daily lives.”

A study by the University of Bristol found that as many as 60 per cent of urban fox populations die by car accidents.

In this study it was revealed that the death rate of fox cubs in the UK is notably high, with some estimates suggesting 20 per cent of cubs die before about six weeks old.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue focuses on wildlife education, rehabilitation, first aid, and treating orphaned wildlife at their casualty centre in Blewbury.

On their website they say 97 per cent of all their wildlife related cases are due to something caused either directly or indirectly by human activity.