Injured fox picked up on Ann Arbor's southwest side Saturday morning euthanized
An injured fox spotted in a southwest Ann Arbor neighborhood was picked up by the Humane Society of Huron Valley early today and was later euthanized.
Humane society spokeswoman Deb Kern said veterinarian Carrie Allen evaluated the animal and determined it had neurological problems from distemper. The fox could not be rehabilitated and would be a danger to humans, Kern said.
This fox was captured by a humane society cruelty investigator after being reported to police as injured. The animal was later euthanized.
Courtesy of Shannon Kos
The sick animal was reported to Ann Arbor police at about 8 a.m., Sgt. Tom Hickey said. It was spotted near the intersection of Scio Church Road and Mershon Drive.Â
Officers located the fox, determined the animal was injured and called the humane society.
Cruelty investigator Thomas Klee captured the animal.
"It's unusual to see a fox hanging out," Kern said. "Normally you would not be able to easily catch a fox, but this one was so sick, it could be easily caught."
Kern said anyone who sees wildlife that appears to be injured should never approach the animal, and should instead call the humane society.
Comments
tdw
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
jcj no offense taken.Although you may have just opened the flod gates to goffy PETA types
jcj
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 1:38 p.m.
I should not not have come across as demeaning animal planet or other shows that show wildlife in their NATURAL habitat. I also watch those kinds of shows. But I loath shows that try to put animals on the same plane as human beings!
tdw
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.
Thanks jcj my point exactly.I should have said I've observed.Although I do watch mostly and always have educational shows as most stuff on TV is junk
jcj
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 11:53 a.m.
I would bet the farm I have spent more time in the woods than any other person that has commented here. My experiences are hands on not from watching animal planet. I can tell you that it is a rare experience for MOST to see a fox let alone get close to one. But in my opinion what makes this story newsworthy is the distemper not the sighting.
tdw
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.
Its easy to avoid reading comments.Don't scroll down past Your Voice
stonecutter1
Sun, Jan 10, 2010 : 1:59 a.m.
Agreed CynicA2. Why all the hostility toward the web site? If you find these articles so meaningless, why read/respond? Subscribe to one of the many "real papers" still in circulation. This is newsworthy. It affects many in the surrounding area.
CynicA2
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 11:40 p.m.
Sheeeesh! Sounds like this distemper stuff got to a few humans around here, too.
ummsw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 8:29 p.m.
Thank you Stephanie..What is with all the sarcasm and insults?? We are all entitled to our opinions without being judged or attacked.
Quercus Alba
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 6:47 p.m.
Awww, poor creature. Distemper affects skunks and raccoons, too, which might explain how the fox caught it. Vaccinate your pets, folks!
tdw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
let me clarify one thing foxes do come out in the in the day but they hunt mostly at night.And they defenitly like to stay in cover.And they have know idea what a neurological problem is.You may also want better read a comment before you reply ( sort of reverse proof reading )
tdw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 6:15 p.m.
Sling Blade First off errors in proof reading is not exactly uncomon on this site (as if that has anything to do with it )Secondly look it up foxes are largely nocturnal.Third they stay away from hunans because of fear. Fourth after spending at lot of time in the woods hunting, fishing,traping and watching and reading a lot about wildlife I do know a lot more about animials than many( and appearently you ).And fith I said animials are NOT always cute and cuddley
Sling Blade
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 5 p.m.
@tdw please proofread your comment before you post it. You must be an animal expert. Foxes are out during the day but they stay away from humans because humans have neurological problems. Animals are a food source but you think everything in nature is "cute and cuddly" do you go around trying to hug and cuddle wild animals?
bunnyabbot
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 4:57 p.m.
the person that called about it was probably concerned that the fox was seen and acting sickly, catching it to test for rabies was probably the issue. If it had had rabies than it would be somewhat more newsworthy, just like they announce when bats have been tested for rabies and when they have the articles about dead birds being tested for bird flu. Cases of rabies are things that the DNR would be interested in. Just as if there were an injured deer in your backyard (or one acting weird, incase wasting disease) or even a few years ago when a deer was corralled in a backyard downtown. The sick fox call response was a pre-emtive measure before it possibly attacked a pet or human (rabid animals will aggressivly attack). better to err on the side of caution.
tdw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 4:40 p.m.
@Sling Blade maybe you need to learn a little more about animials.To see much less catch or get near a fox at 8 am is very odd.Foxes don't like to be out in daylight or anyehere near humans.The article also said that it was easily caught, not normal as I stated above foxes are one of worst rabbie carriers ( along with bats and raccons )so you may want to know a little more about the animial kingdom before you accuse people about neurological problems.Evey thing in nature is not always cute and cuddlely
Sling Blade
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 3:53 p.m.
Oh No! My kids just ran in the house and told me that there are deer in the backyard should I call the humane society or the DNR? No wait I'll just shoot the deer and eat them, yummy! Forget about the foxes with neurological problems it's the people freaked out about foxes in their neighborhood that have the real neurological problems.
jcj
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
CynicA2 I suppose you would rather know what Obama is doing on his vacation or what some celebrity had to say? If you lived in that neighborhood and had small children that play outdoors you might appreciate knowing about this! This is definitely newsworthy!
CynicA2
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.
Must be a slow news day! Maybe I'm missing something, but why is this even newsworthy?
tdw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.
@Bunnyabbot thanks I missed the distemper part
bunnyabbot
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 1:53 p.m.
rabies and distemper are different. That is why your dogs have to different vaccinations, one for each. rabies can be transmitted from animal to human and be fatal. Distemper can not be transmitted from animal to human, although a sick animal with distemper can be unpredictable and attack or harm a human. http://www.ehow.com/facts_5636479_difference-between-distemper-rabies.html
wlhneighbor
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.
I saw a sick fox on 9/6/06 in my next door neighbor's back yard. I called the Humane Society, but it was gone by the time they got here. That one also seemed to have "neurological problems." Any way to include a photo with a comment?
tdw
Sat, Jan 9, 2010 : 1:35 p.m.
neurological problems? is this a way to say rabies? foxes are one of the most common amnials that have them