Fox survives brush with danger after hiding under car bonnet

A fox cub survived a brush with danger after being found under the bonnet of a car in Fife.

A member of the public alerted the Scottish SPCA after spotting the cub’s head move as they opened the vehicle’s engine hood in Dunfermline’s Scott Street at around 3.30pm last Tuesday.

An officer from the animal welfare charity lured the hungry cub out using some food, and was then able to safely contain it.

The cub is now being cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire and will be released back into the wild once it is old enough.

Animal rescue officer Kelly McGuire said: “The fox was very lucky that this happened at a time when the public are travelling less as the car had been parked for three days.

“The member of the public who found the youngster could see its head moving when they opened the bonnet.

“Given that it may have been in there for the full three days the car was stationary, I knew the cub would likely be hungry.

“The promise of a square meal was all it took to lure the young fox out and safely contain it.

“The cub was transported to our centre at Fishcross where it will receive the care it needs before being released back into the wild once old enough.”

The rescue comes off the back of the launch of the Scottish SPCA’s #WildlifeWise campaign, which educates the public on when to leave baby animals alone in the wild and when to phone its helpline.

Vixens can sometimes leave their cubs when they are scavenging for food or looking for a new den.

The Scottish SPCA is asking that people monitor any cubs found and check back on them over a few hours to avoid creating an orphan.

For more information, call 03000 999 999 or go to scottishspca.org/wildlifewise.