When a concerned citizen spotted a group of puppies trapped in a storm drain, he quickly called for help. Unsure of how to safely rescue the animals, he reached out to the fire department. The firefighters of Colorado Springs Fire Department, always ready to assist in emergencies, responded promptly, hoping they could save the helpless puppies.
Within minutes, the fire crew successfully rescued what appeared to be eight newborn black puppies. However, they were about to encounter a surprise that no one expected.
The Unexpected Reveal
Fire Captain Brian Vaughan shared with Inside Edition that, initially, the firefighters assumed the animals were “newborn black Labrador Retriever puppies.” They were concerned about the possibility of a case of dog abandonment and began searching the area for the mother. However, they could not find her, leaving the firefighters with even more questions.
After rescuing the eight tiny animals from the storm drain, the team decided to bring them to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region for further care. It was there that they received an unexpected revelation.
At the shelter, a veterinarian took a closer look at the pups and quickly identified them as baby red foxes, not puppies at all. Fire Captain Vaughan recalled, “One of the vets at the shelter said, ‘No, these aren’t Labradors, these are foxes.’” Vaughan admitted to being “in shock” when he heard the news. The eight little creatures, with their dark red fur, were not puppies but baby foxes!
The Shocking Discovery
The realization was a total surprise for the firefighters. They had been so focused on the idea that they had rescued abandoned puppies that the possibility of them being foxes never crossed their minds. According to the vet, the baby foxes were found in a neighborhood nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where red foxes are quite common.
Travis Sauder, the Wildlife Manager for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife District, wasn’t surprised by the discovery. He explained to CBS News,
“This time of year, there are a lot of animals starting to have their young in small dens. We often encounter them in unusual places, like storm drains.”
Caring for the Baby Foxes
Once they learned the animals were actually baby red foxes. The officials returned them to the storm drain, hoping their mother would still be nearby. Sadly, the mother fox did not return to retrieve her kits.
With no sign of the mother, the baby foxes were taken to The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park for rehabilitation. The clinic shared an update on Facebook, saying,
“So yes, a litter of eight red fox kits was found in Colorado Springs and brought to our great rehabber. Terri is losing sleep feeding them for hours, but so far, so good.”
The clinic staff worked tirelessly to care for the foxes, ensuring they were nourished and healthy. Once the kits were old enough and able to survive on their own. They were released back into the wild to live freely in their natural habitat.
