Fox advice please

[Foxhelp]

Where are these somebodys offering to help? I do not see them , then or now.

[DJKillaQueen]

I was one of those watching the thread to see what happened. Many people read threads on the forum without posting. But after May 4th there are no posts to say that the mother hadn't returned. The next post isn't until three weeks later, to tell us the cubs died!

[Foxhelp]

Was you going To offer help?

[DJKillaQueen]

If you had posted a couple of days later to say the mother hadn't returned, then yes, I would have offered transport to take the cubs to a wildlife rescue centre and would have helped to get them, along with giving some formula hand rearing milk to rehydrate them etc. But you never came back after the original day of posting to say the mother still hadn't returned.

[Foxhelp]

Great. Now....Who do I call if it should happen again? Where is a Local Wildlife Rescue Centre? Thank you

[DJKillaQueen]

If it happens again, then firstly I'd say to keep the forum updated daily. It's always a difficult call with wildlife, but once it's clear that the mother is not coming back for the cubs then you need to let people know that. Also it depends on the age of the cubs too. Young cubs will need formula milk like Lactol (pet shops sell it) or goats milk will do in the short term.

There are several wildlife rescue centres in London and the South East that can advise on and will take in foxes....

http://www.londonwildcare.org/

http://www.helpwildlife.co.uk/southeast.php

[aquarius moon]

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I was one of those watching the thread to see what

> happened. Many people read threads on the forum

> without posting. But after May 4th there are no

> posts to say that the mother hadn't returned. The

> next post isn't until three weeks later, to tell

> us the cubs died!

Exactly my point.

Because there were no further posts, I assumed that the mother had returned & there was a happy ending.

[Foxhelp]

DJKQ thank you for trying, I mean that. The first link London Wildcare are in Surrey, only operate office hours and for Sutton, Merton and Croydon. The second link HelpWildlife are in Barnet. These are not local at all. I didn't manage to find anything local.

[Foxhelp]

Now I have DJKQ on board offering lifts and care all I need to know now is who to call and where to go. If anyone knows of any Local wildlife Rescue Centres do let me know. If they are open weekends, answer their phones or call you back, even better. Thanks

[UncleBen]

At least you tried Foxhelp so ignore the blamers.

There used to be a Tiggywinkles or something similar in Oxfordshire that take wildlife etc but dont know if its still there and its a long drive.

[kiera]

The best and most local wildlife rescue service I know is Willow Wildlife in Chislehurst. They cover our area, have an ambulance and will come and collect the wild animals. Their phone number is 07956 472 284 and their website is http://willowwildlife.co.uk

[Foxhelp]

Thank you Kiera, it is so much better to be helpful than critical. I have just emailed willowwildlife in Chislehurst. I see it is run by a retired couple. I hope the rescue centre is still running as the last website activity looks as though it was in 2009. Let you know if I hear back. Thanks again.

[TillieTrotter]

If anyone was that interested Foxhelp they'd have been badgering you for updates. Don't let them get you down with their should haves as I'm sure you have a life to get on with.

[Foxhelp]

I agree Tillie. No one was interested it was simple to see ( or not see in this case sadly). But I don't mind getting slagged off if it then leads to having my question answered which is, who to call and where to go should it happen again. I really hope I don't come up a brick wall again. I have been trying to PM DJKQ for her contact details as she has kindly offered to help in future but it doesn't seem to be working. I do hope willowwildlife get back to me as the whole thing was distressing for the cubs.

[DJKillaQueen]

With respect Tillie, many forum users are passive readers. They WILL repsond to direct requests in genuine situations and there is plenty of evidence of that in the forum's history (it's one of the best things about this forum). Like Aquarius I thought the mother must have come back. The advice on that day offered was that (and it was the right advice), along with a request to keep the forum updated. No updates came though, either way. So someone like me assumed, no help needed.

Also a simple google search will bring up wildlife rescue centres. Yes they are mainly in the outskirts of town. That's because most of them are run on farms (which makes sense) by volunteers. What we don't know is how long after May 4th the cubs died but I find it hard to understand why somewhere during that process the OP didn't come back to the forum with another update and request for further help.

Sadly, it's too late now to do anything. There is no blame to attach to anyone, just advice on what might be done differently in the future.

[Foxhelp]

DJKQ I didn't come back to the forum with a request for further help as I assumed no one on here could help because no one replied or gave advice. I used the time to contact other sources including environmental health , rspca, Wildlife centres and local vets. Why didn't you speak up or contact me? Saffron was sympathetic and when she said Oh dear do keep the forum updated I just thought she was being nice and not asking for an update with regard to anyone offering help! Silly me. Next time I will certainly request further help on here from you because you have offered to help which I am grateful for.

[Saffron]

Foxhelp Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DJKQ I didn't come back to the forum with a

> request for further help as I assumed no one on

> here could help because no one replied or gave

> advice. I used the time to contact other sources

> including environmental health , rspca, Wildlife

> centres and local vets. Why didn't you speak up or

> contact me? Saffron was sympathetic and when she

> said Oh dear do keep the forum updated I just

> thought she was being nice and not asking for an

> update with regard to anyone offering help! Silly

> me. Next time I will certainly request further

> help on here from you because you have offered to

> help which I am grateful for.

So sorry to see the cubs died. Yes, my post was entirely genuine, and I would have been very happy to help in any way (then or in the future). But please try not to feel bad. What happened was a natural event for a wild animal. Although it's sad, it's not your fault. xx

[meduza]

What a sad situation, i wish i had seen this post....Putting your feelings aside, you should keep the RSPCA informed of any changes or not, to the situation.You are their eyes and ears. Also there is a small charity in Beckenham called the wildlife lodge.They are a small charity so please use your judgement well.If they cant help they will most certainly know someone that can.

www.thewildlifelodge.co.uk

8 Foxgrove Rd BR3 5AT

07983708497

[Foxhelp]

Hi, well ive just heard back for Willowildlfe.co.uk and yes they are there and willing to provide a service. Wooohoo!! Thanks for that Keira, for some reason I didn't come across willowwildlife when I needed them, they didn't appear in google searches. It is very nice to know people care, god bless x

[kiera]

Foxhelp, I'm pleased that you now know you have two sources of help and support should you ever need it - the local wildlife rescue service and this forum, but I would have expected The National Fox Welfare Society to also be able to help you. They have an emergency number on their website and volunteer rescuers throughout the country. I do think the advice you got from the RSPCA - to contact environmental health - was completely inappropriate and unhelpful.