A paralysed young fox vanished into Alver Valley bushes after a Good Samaritan failed to find help in the early hours. The poor cub, unable to use its back legs, drags itself along, suffering painful sores from constant dragging.
Mysterious Injury Sparks Fears of Fox Infanticide
It’s unclear how the fox became so badly injured. Experts suspect infanticide—a brutal tactic where dominant foxes kill cubs of rivals to cut down competition. This ruthless behaviour helps dominant foxes in two key ways:
- Slashes competition for food during the vulnerable cub stage and after they start fending for themselves.
- Forces the bereaved mother fox to focus her care on the cubs of the killer fox, boosting their survival chances.
Spotted the Fox? Act Fast!
If you come across this frail fox cub, contact the RSPCA immediately on 0300 1234 999. Only try to catch it if you’re sure it’s safe to do so. Every hour counts in saving this struggling little survivor.
