On December 1, a family from Richmond brought in a juvenile Red Fox. They had spotted the fox on their property a month prior to admission, and said that he was in such rough shape that they "could hardly tell he was a fox ... we realized he needed help, and after speaking with Center staff, we bought a humane trap and set it up with sardines as bait. The fox seemed scared the first time he approached the trap, but we covered it with leaves on our second attempt and had immediate success." Once captured, the family quickly transported the fox to the Wildlife Center.
On admission, the veterinary team determined that the young fox had a severe case of sarcoptic mange. Not only had the fox lost roughly 60% of its fur, but he was also emaciated, dehydrated, and had several open wounds on his face and body. Most of the fox's skin was crusted and hardened as a result of a secondary bacterial infection.
Sarcoptic mange is a skin condition caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. These contagious mites burrow underneath the skin of host animals and cause intense itching and inflammation. In many cases, the infestation will resolve without treatment if the animal has a healthy immune system, but if not, it can progress to the point of serious complications as it did for this fox. Affected animals will scratch themselves incessantly, creating wounds that become infected. Mange also leads to hair loss, which leaves animals vulnerable to the elements during cold winter months.
Veterinary staff are treating the fox with a combination of anti-parasitic, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory medication. The prognosis for recovery was initially guarded due to the fox's poor condition. Thankfully, after three weeks in care, the fox has made significant improvement. Front desk staff at the Wildlife Center were thrilled to update the rescuers on the fox's progress, and were touched to learn that the fox has a large following in the community who are rooting for him to recover. "I shared this fox's story and received so many heartwarming responses ," the rescuer said. "I also learned that I'm not alone, others said they've seen foxes just like this one."
The fox is still missing fur, but his skin has significantly improved.
Sadly, this fox's story is not unusual. Each year, the Center receives a substantial number of reports of mange in Red Foxes. Habitat loss and the feeding of wildlife — whether purposeful or indirect — have likely contributed to the spread of mange in recent years. These human-related activities either force or encourage animals to occupy shared spaces where the highly contagious mites can more easily spread.
The Wildlife Center advises callers who see mangy foxes to take photos or videos. This can help staff determine whether the fox needs treatment. If a fox does need treatment, the best way to help it is to set out a humane trap; be sure to check the trap at least twice a day, and always release other animals that enter the trap. Once the fox has been contained, it should be transported to the nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
Mnamo Desemba 1, familia moja kutoka Richmond ilileta mbwa-mwitu mchanga Red Fox. "Waliiona mbweha katika mali yao mwezi mmoja kabla ya kuandikishwa, na walisema kwamba alikuwa katika hali mbaya sana kwamba hawakuweza kusema kwamba alikuwa mbweha... tuligundua alihitaji msaada, na baada ya kuzungumza na wafanyakazi wa Kituo, tulinunua mtego wa kibinadamu na kuuweka na sardini kama mtego. """ "Mbwa huyo alionekana kuogopa mara ya kwanza alipokaribia mtego, lakini tuliifunika kwa majani katika jaribio letu la pili na tukafanikiwa mara moja.""" Mbwa-mwitu huyo alipokamatwa, familia hiyo ilimpeleka haraka kwenye Kituo cha Wanyama wa Pori. Baada ya kuingizwa, timu ya madaktari wa mifugo iliamua kwamba mbweha huyo mchanga alikuwa na ugonjwa mbaya wa sarcoptic mange. Mbwa huyo alikuwa amepoteza asilimia 60 ya manyoya yake na pia alikuwa amechoka na alikuwa na majeraha mengi ya uso na mwili. Sehemu kubwa ya ngozi ya mbweha huyo ilikuwa na makapi na ilikuwa imefadhaika kwa sababu ya maambukizo ya bakteria. Sarcoptic mange ni hali ya ngozi inayosababishwa na mdudu wa vimelea Sarcoptes scabiei. Vipepeo hao wenye kuambukiza huingia chini ya ngozi ya wanyama wenye kuambukiza na kusababisha kukwaruza na uvimbe mkali. Katika visa vingi, ugonjwa huo utaisha bila matibabu ikiwa mnyama ana mfumo wa kinga wenye afya, lakini ikiwa hauna, unaweza kusonga mbele hadi kufikia hatua ya kusababisha matatizo makubwa kama ilivyokuwa kwa mbweha huyu. Wanyama walioathiriwa hujipiga-piga bila kukoma, wakitokeza majeraha ambayo huambukizwa. Pia, manyoya ya mbu huongoza kwenye kupoteza nywele, jambo linalofanya wanyama wawe hatarini wakati wa majira ya baridi kali. Wafanyakazi wa mifugo wanamtibu mbweha huyo kwa kutumia dawa za kuua vimelea, viuavijasumu, na viuavijasumu. Mwanzoni, hakukuwa na matarajio ya kupona kwa sababu ya hali mbaya ya mbweha huyo. Kwa shukrani, baada ya kutunzwa kwa majuma matatu, mbweha huyo ameboresha sana. Wafanyakazi wa kituo cha uokoaji wa wanyama wa porini walishangilia kuwajulisha waokoaji juu ya maendeleo ya mbweha, na walifurahishwa kujua kwamba mbweha ana wafuasi wengi katika jamii ambao wanamtarajia apone. "Nilishiriki hadithi ya mbweha huyu na kupokea majibu mengi yenye kufurahisha", akasema mkombozi huyo. "Nilijifunza pia kwamba si mimi peke yangu, wengine walisema kwamba wameona mbweha kama huyu". Mbweha huyo bado hana manyoya, lakini ngozi yake imeboreshwa sana. Kwa kusikitisha, hadithi ya mbweha huyu si ya kawaida. Kila mwaka, Kituo hicho hupokea ripoti nyingi za ugonjwa wa kuhara kwa Mbweha Mwekundu. Kupoteza makao na kulisha wanyama-pori - iwe ni kwa makusudi au kwa njia isiyo ya moja kwa moja - yaelekea kumesababisha kuenea kwa ugonjwa wa kuhara katika miaka ya hivi karibuni. Shughuli hizi zinazohusiana na binadamu ama kulazimisha au kuhamasisha wanyama kuchukua nafasi za pamoja ambapo vimelea virusi vya kuambukiza inaweza kuenea kwa urahisi zaidi. Kituo cha Wanyama wa Pori kinashauri wapiga-simu wanaowaona mbweha wenye kuvu kupiga picha au video. Hilo laweza kusaidia wafanyakazi kuamua ikiwa mbweha anahitaji kutibiwa. Ikiwa mbweha anahitaji matibabu, njia bora ya kumsaidia ni kuweka mtego wa kibinadamu; hakikisha kuangalia mtego angalau mara mbili kwa siku, na kila wakati waachilia wanyama wengine ambao huingia mtego. Baada ya mbweha huyo kuangamizwa, anapaswa kupelekwa kwenye kituo cha kurudishwa katika hali nzuri ya wanyama-pori kilicho karibu haraka iwezekanavyo.