Five Fox Kits Suffer From Mange

The following story was shared with us by the Wildlife In Need Center in Wisconsin.

In the peak of summer the Wildlife In Need Center admitted five juvenile red foxes that we believed to be from the same litter and den. All were emaciated, dehydrated, and suffering from severe cases of mange.

To stabilize their condition, each of the fox kits (the term for young foxes) received medication to treat the mites, fluid therapy, and EmerAid Intensive Care Carnivore during their first days of care. After a slow transition to a normal diet, each of the kits received multiple baths, under sedation, to remove the accumulated dead skin.

Within a month the full group of five was moved to our outdoor enclosures to acclimatize to the summer weather. Using a trail camera we were able to watch as they played and stashed food — great natural behaviors for growing foxes. All five were released a few weeks later!