Foxy first came to the attention of the people living in Lebanon Road early in 2023.  Afflicted by mange and emaciated, she was tiny enough to take refuge in a cat box, though clearly no longer a cub.  Unbeknown to each other, at least two groups of neighbours began to give her a homeopathic remedy on cake (and other sweet treats not attractive to cats).  She began to get better and an earth was dug for her under some decking in a back garden.

Although Foxy made a full recovery, life continued to prove challenging for her.  When the house on the corner of Leslie Park Road & Lebanon Road was renovated the following year, a family of foxes was displaced from its back garden.  Attempting to establish a territory for themselves, one of them attacked Foxy and she received some severe head wounds.  For several weeks she could be found wandering around the back alleys during the day time, emitting the most mournful cries. Once again she made a full recovery. 

However, life was not all bad for Foxy.  She had at least two litters of cubs and could be seen sunbathing with her mate on shed roofs.  

Early in 2025, disaster struck again when her jaw was badly damaged, probably by a passing car. Again, she got better, but her luck was running out.  She was last seen in March 2026 and was found dead, curled up in her earth, in April.  She would have been about 4 years-old – not bad for an urban fox as they typically live for just 12-18 months.  Although they could potentially live for up to 14 years, many are killed in traffic accidents or deliberately by people who do not appreciate their role in reducing the local populations of mice and rats.

More information about help available for foxes including a wildlife ambulance service and how to treat mange https://foxproject.org.uk/pages/about-us