Posted on 10/17/2024 9:44:15 AM PDT by Red Badger
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Oregon said a small, white animal spotted earlier this month in Portland was safely captured and positively identified as an Arctic fox.
The Bird Alliance of Oregon said the female Arctic fox was brought into its Wildlife Care Center, but officials still do not know how she ended up in the Portland area.
"Arctic foxes don't naturally occur in Oregon, so this species is considered an exotic animal here," rescuers wrote on social media. "Its native habitat is in the far north in places like Greenland, Svalbard, northern Russia, Canada and Alaska."
Rescuers said the fox's behavior is consistent with a life in captivity.
"The fox doesn't show a species appropriate fear response to people, and was actually approaching humans when rescued," the post said. "We believe the fox either accidentally escaped from captivity or was intentionally dumped by the people who illegally held her."
The animal was said to be healthy, aside from being dehydrated and "just a little thin."
"We're keeping her fed, hydrated, and providing enrichment while the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife determines next steps," officials wrote.
That’s probably because that’s it’s summer coat, wait until it gets cold and it’s bleached white coat comes in.
Women didn’t like wearing their furs because they looked like this.
Sailed up on one of those South Pacific icebergs due to SUV warming.
Sad...same crud that try to pet bison in Yellowstone did this.
LOLOLOL
should have been ‘of’; not ‘od’
And I forgot the /s.
“We’re keeping her fed, hydrated, and providing enrichment while the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife determines next steps,” officials wrote”
Don’t underestimate the Feds willingness to putting it down.
separate article showing the fox on a leash being walked on a beach likely by the foxnappers. It makes me angry that this little fox could be running around Alaska living the life of a fox and raising a family and now, destined for a cramped zoo, will never be able to do that. People need to leave wildlife wild.
It really depends on opportunities to become habituated. Canids seem to have a tendency to adapt to living with humans easily and begin behaving quite similar to stray dogs.
For example, there are a number of large paper plants in the nearest city each taking up hundreds, possibly a thousand or more acres. Foxes have moved in everywhere they can because as far as they know they are top predator in that environment. They take time out of their day to stop by the areas where the workers take their lunches outside. In those parts of town those foxes have little fear of humans and seem to know that humans are the animals that give away sandwiches.
If you know people at the plant youll hear stories of this guy or that with a number of little lunch friends.
When I was a kid I lived in a large city and in that city was a restaurant with a large park attached that they used for festivals and things. We only had one car when my mother had taken a job there and she had to close the restaurant so my dad would have to take us along to pick her up. When we arrived we would sit in the back parking lot between the building and the park in the dark. We tried to be quiet when the foxes or coyotes would come through the park to visit the dumpster to check for steak bones and french fries that didnt quite make it in. After a while they came to know that the same kind of animal that dropped fries was also in the car and would walk by and check us out to see if we were offering anything.
They are capable of distinguishing individuals and can become quite bold around those people. Maybe you look close enough that the fox misidentified you as the people friend that hands out sandwiches or fries.
If you would like more information about what’s happening in Oregon, please FReepmail me. Please send me your name by FReepmail if you want to be on this list.
It’s climate change, of course. Soon we’ll have arctic foxes and caribou everywhere.
Climate cooling???? Not again please.
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