Amber (Red Fox)

Vulpes vulpes

In early April, 2001 we received a little canine pup. She was hard to identify from the front but one look at her white-tipped tail and the mystery was solved-red fox. Even though Eastern red foxes now roam the valley and foothills of Central California, their size and reproduction rate make them a threat to the indigenous California Grey Fox and endangered Kit Fox. For these reasons we are unable to rehab and release them in the area.

In an effort to transport them back to the Midwest where they are indigenous, we ran into additional problems. The threat of introducing disease makes this procedure prohibited by law. This latest arrival, then, is our newest permanent resident-Amber. She enjoys a pounce or two with her little stuffed green bunny, which periodically squeaks when her pounce is particularly effective. She enjoys a little game with her toy ball although the notion of giving it back seems to elude her. We will be training her over the summer in the hopes of using her as an educational animal. She is gentle with us but is still wary of strangers.

She is now housed in an enclosure, complete with boulders and an oak tree, large enough to hold both of our foxes. Fox Haven, this new home for our permanent foxes is one of our recently completed major projects on the other side of the creek.

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Amber and Ruby in their enclosure