Down the foxhole

Meet two of the Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary’s newest, and cutest, patients. These fluffy red fox kits were rescued and brought to the sanctuary after their mother was shot by a property owner. They’ve joined one of the largest cohorts of orphaned fox kits in RWS’s history—19 kits! RWS is one of the few wildlife rehabilitation facilities in Virginia that admits fox kits, meaning it cares for the majority of central Virginia’s orphaned or injured furry red friends. While the kits rest, recover, and grow at RWS they’ll receive fresh meals, new enrichment, and enclosure cleanings every day. “We hope their story reminds people of the importance of coexisting with wildlife. Foxes are vital ecological players in Virginia, they control prey populations, eat invasive animals, and disperse native seeds…” says RWS Executive Director Sarah Cooperman. “We look forward to providing these orphaned kits with the respectful, compassionate care they deserve, and aim to release them in late summer.” Learn more about Virginia Wildlife and meet RWS’s other patients at rockfishwildlifesanctuary.org.