Sick fox in the garden

[myidentitymycrisis]

One of the local foxes has mange.
Poor thing looks so unwell but when I try to approach it hops over the back wall.
The RSPCA won’t help unless it’s stationary and they can trap it. I’ve called someone in Kent who say if you feed it regularly you can mail order medication and add it to the food for 3 - 4 weeks.

I’m posting for moral support from animal lovers really. I know it’s a wild animal and I should let nature take its course, but I also feel differently about urban foxes.

I know two people who have treated foxes for mange in the way you describe - by feeding them medication in food.

There's more information ((www.nfws.org.uk/mange/ here)) including an online form to fill in for free treatment.

I would do it in your shoes. There's no need for the poor creature to suffer. Good luck!

@TimeIhadaNameChange
I have just emailed them to ask if it will be suitable to treat.
I am away soon for the holiday, so wouldn't be able to begin consistent treatment for a couple of weeks

I will fill in the online form as well thank you.

Do you have a local wildlife rescue because they are more likely to help than RSPCA?

I will try and get a photo and some more detail in case they might consider it in need of trapping.

Thanks for your support

Could you trap it yourself and take it to the RSPCA?
Does your council have traps to borrow? Or the RSPCA?

OP, I just wanted to say I think it’s lovely of you to try to help the poor fox. The medicine in food sounds like a good approach, especially if he’s too nervous for you to get close to him. Good luck, I hope it goes well and it’s very kind of you

Poor thing, thank you so much for trying to help it ♥️

If you're going away is it possible a neighbour would begin the treatment? My neighbour feeds our local foxes - they're all pretty healthy looking - but if he asked me to put out medication for them I'd be happy to do it.

I also agree with PP, you're doing a really kind thing!

That’s so nice you’re trying to help and I would do the same thing.
My Dad treated a young fox with mange. He went to our local vets and they gave him the medication for free. Dad successfully treated the fox and the fox must of got used to his smell because it decided to come in the house one day while Dad was having an afternoon nap and it nicked one of his shoes! Dad woke up, realised a shoe was missing looked outside and there it was, being chewed up by the now ‘mange free’ fox