Wildlife worker dons cunning disguise to care for rescued newborn fox

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A newborn fox recently delivered to a wildlife center could see an unusual sight when she grows old enough to open her eyes: a human caregiver dressed as a fox.

Staff at the Richmond Wildlife Center in Virginia adopted the strategy as part of an effort to prevent the animal from over-associating with humans, the center said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. A video showed a staff member bottle-feeding the tiny creature, while wearing gloves and a red, furry, pointed mask to cover their human face.

“It’s important to make sure that the orphans that are raised in captivity do not become imprinted upon or habituated to humans,” the post said, adding that the mask meant “she doesn’t see a human face when feeding.”

“This is critically important if we are going to get her wild,” it said. Other precautions include minimizing human sounds and handling, and providing the kit with a snuggly toy fox to mimic the sensation of her mother.

https://wapo.st/3wOrQZb