Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue: Cub found ‘barely breathing’

The animal was discovered by the Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue team at the entrance to its den on Tuesday night, April 14.

The cub was found alone, exposed and unresponsive in a location not provided after wandering outside in a desperate search for her mother, the charity said.

The charity’s spokesman said: “She was covered in fly eggs, cold and barely breathing.

“She was clinging onto life with absolutely everything she had left in her.

“This can only mean one thing, she was searching for her mother out of pure desperation.”

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One of the fox cubs receiving oxygen from the rescue team (Image: Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue)

The team said they immediately got the cub some warmth and began helping her with oxygen in an effort to save her, after seeing the state of the animal.

They noted the cub was very frail and her body was beginning to shut down.

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

While treating the first cub, the team spotted a second, equally weak 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.”

Fearing more cubs could be in danger, the team searched the area but soon discovered the body of the mother fox nearby.

She had been involved in a car accident. No other cubs were found in the den.

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The rescue team worked urgently to stabilise the two cubs in their care. During the journey back to the centre, the smallest cub began to show signs of life.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said the cub gasped and opened her eyes.

“The feelings were simply overwhelming.”

The centre said these were the first signs of hope for this cub and added: “Remarkably, the other cub was also starting to become much more lively too.”

Both fox cubs are now recovering in intensive care at the centre, receiving round-the-clock support.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue said: “We remain hopeful that we managed to get to them just in time to give them a second chance.

The rescue team have said they will update with their story as the cubs progress with the team of volunteers here at the centre.

They also thanked the lady who found the cub and called them for help.

The charity is monitoring the site for any further signs of cubs but does not expect to find more.

Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue relies on public donations to support its work with sick and injured animals.

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.