Fox cubs recovering at wildlife hospital in Kibworth after being rescued by firefighters from between walls
Three orphaned fox cubs are recovering at a wildlife hospital in Kibworth after being rescued by firefighters, when they became trapped between two walls.
The three 12-week-old fox cubs were found trapped in a 15-centimetre gap between two walls in a garage in Leicester by firefighters.
They were alerted after neighbours heard the distressed cries of a fox, with fire crews dashing to the property on Letchworth Road in the city on Sunday April 5 to complete the dramatic rescue.
Crews chipped away brickwork at the garage to release the three fox cubs, with one given oxygen therapy via a specialist mask for small animals, before they were taken to Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital for further care.
The wildlife hospital, based on Fleckney Road in Kibworth Harcourt, posted on social media: "Something had spooked them and they ran down between the brick walls, but the space got tighter and tighter as they went further in."
They added in a statement that it was an ‘incredible’ rescue by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service saying: "The three fox cubs are now safely in our care.
"One is separated from the others as it’s still on fluid, she’s not very well.
"The other two are doing well, they’re feeding well. They’re with us until the winter, so another six months, and we'll release them around October time.
"When the other one is 100 per cent we will try and integrate them with the siblings and, when they’re old enough, they’ll get moved outside and then to a bigger enclosure."
The wildlife hospital added on social media that one of the foxes "had suffered constriction injuries due to the tight space.
"One spent the night on oxygen and an IV line so they are on medication and being monitored."
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Our Technical Rescue Team from Southern Station were called to a house on Letchworth Road in Leicester, where a fox could be heard trapped between two buildings.
"They were given permission to remove brickwork from the garage by the homeowner and found three trapped cubs.
"All were recovered safely, with one given oxygen therapy via our specialist mask for small animals and were then left with the RSPCA for treatment."