The 2 years old fox reserve

The 2 years old fox reserve
2011.10.14.

"I am just one of the same foxes you know. If you domesticate me we would need each other. You would be the one for me all over the world. And I would also be the one for you”- The Little Prince.

Two years ago the Noa shelter opened it’s doors for the foxes who got in trouble or need help. So the fox reserve was founded. It is unique in Europe and provides home for ten foxes, eight raccoons, five badgers and one coati. We realised that a reserve was needed for these animals and we received many letters in which help was asked. The first foxes who were in trouble arrived two years ago. For example Kópé.

Kópé was found near Pest by the house. He was too close to the house and people thought his tameness is a sign of rabidity. He was cought and got send away. He was in quarantine in Illatos street for fourteen days. It tourned out that he was not rabid but too tame. Unfortunately he had babesia. He can thank for his life just for his keeper who took care of him and called us. He loved Kópé so much so he didn’t want to let him to the wild again. He was afraid of this case happens again. It can have an end in a much worse way, for e.g. Kópé is shot down, slayed or poisoned. So that’s why Kópé is one of the first foxes here in NOÉ. And that was the cause that one of our managers, Zoltán Matuschek decided to plan a fox reserve. The first foxrun was ready in three months after the plans were ready.
The reserve is on 570 acre. The run was founded by a 1.5 m RC net. This provides to have enough place for the warrens but prevents foxes to escape. The wire net around the run is 2 m high on the up there is 50 cm which is banked and there is the electric fence. By setting up the run we starved to make a natural place for the foxes. We put some hollow trunks to the run and we made a warrant for the foxes. Theses warrants can be broaden, build and make nicer by it’s residents. Some of our volunteers made cages for them. So the foxes can choose the best place for hiding now.

We would be kind with the ones who loves foxes so we are planning to build a webcam system. With this you can follow the everyday life of foxes. You have to wait a little bit for this, because our mobile net is not the best for this.
We opened the reserve with a ceremony on 12.12.2009. That time six foxes, two badgers and one raccoon lived here. As I mentioned above now ten foxes, eight raccoons, five badgers and one coati are living here in peace. But in the nature theese species are antagonists. It’s interesting to know that int he nature foxes, badgers and raccoons are active in the late afternoon or night and coati is active int he morning here she is adapted to the others. She comes outside when the others are up. Maybe she was bored alone…

Two years have gone by and we have to say that the reserve is full now. But the number of those foxes who need help don’t decrease. This year there is „just” six foxes who need a new home. This burdens the shelter seriously. Their temporary home would be Linda’s run. The monkeyrun is going to be ready just in October.

Some of you may asked why we don’t let theese wild animals back the nature. Well, just a few people know the fact that foxes int he wild live for 4-5 years but in confinement they are living for 14-15 years. This can be caused by the injections that they get against illnesses. Hunters say rabidity doesn’t spread now, but they don’t really tell us that an other infectious illness –the scab- is spreading so fast. Scabidity is a really serious problem for foxes, it can decimate the population. http://m.blog.hu/th/thomasphoto/image/róka.jpg

If it’s not enough, it can turn out that an other fox is living on the territory where we let the new one out. It can cause many problems. For e.g. the inhabitant knocks the new one. This can cause starving for the new one.
The main reason for not letting them away is that theese foxes are not scared from people or dogs. So in the nature they would be killed fastly by hunters. Fox and badger are beasts of prey. This means that they can be killed with every method that is banned for other species even in national parks or wildlife areas. The most cruel but popular method for killing animals is the warrening. It’s not surprising because everyone can do it without a hunter exam.
„Warrening means that dogs (e.g. jagd terrier, jack russel terrier, haired daschhound etc.) are let to the living place of foxes or badgers. There are many methods of warrening but the most important is that the fox has no chance to survive. The question is how much anguish, fear and hurt the fox gets until it dies.

During warrening the hunter lets the dog into the warrant and the dog strangles the fox. If the wild animal tries to escape the hunter shots it down. If the fox or badger is dogged the hunter digs into the warrant and catches the fox with a loop or swats it by a spade. Usually the badger is a tough opponent so the dogs can be hurt seriously.”

Sometimes the hunter catches it and let his younger dogs to train on it or he sells it on the internet for the same reason. Well, if he kills it instantly that is the best solution in order the fox doesn't suffer for a long time.
Not to mention those puppies who lost their family or friends and they stay alone. The lucky ones are found by animal lovers. The unfortunate ones are found by an other fox, other carnivores or they just starve to death.

Azil's life would have ended up in the same way but he was lucky!

Azil was found in Kőszeg. A young couple helped him and feed him from a bottle that's why he tame was for the first time. His parents probably became victims of a hunter. Since he is our Pethome Zoli takes care of him. So for Azil Zoli is the owner. When Zoli arrives to the Pethome Azil says hello with a tail wag and whims lowly.

Most of you may know Azil, because he is our celebfox. He loves ice cream and he also comes to our events. Sometimes you can see him also on TV. It's good because average people don't really see a fox such close.

Both children and adults love him. He also has fifteen dog-friends with whom they are bopping sometimes.

Azil doesn't live in the reserve. He has a separate place but we are planning to set up a bigger reserve where he could live with his mates. But it's just a future plan.