SOLC staff encounter with gray fox
In late June of this year, a couple SOLC staff had a chance encounter with a delicate gray fox. Here is the retelling of this tale from Stewardship Director, Kristi Mergenthaler.
“While driving on the freeway yesterday, I saw an animal thrashing around with what appeared to be something on its head. When I could pull my car over, I ran down some distance with a towel and there she was, a gray fox improbably circling on top of a short cement barrier, right next to large rigs chugging up the slow lane, with a white plastic thing on her head. After I realized I could not take the plastic container off by myself, I used my keychain pen knife to make breathing holes as she was heavily panting. Soon her breathing became more regular, but still labored.
Wrapped in a towel, I carried her to the car; she was so light and delicate but occasionally struggled with her strong claws. I called people that could help on a Friday morning. My co-worker Rebekah was able to meet me at the Siskiyou Summit for a safer place to try to free the fox. At the bottom of the Mt Ashland Road, with some gentle twisting (and appropriate safety gear), we took off the stupid plastic trash; and the most luminous eyes stared at us. Frightened, she ran under our cars and then into a ravine with cover and water. It would have been nice to take photos or videos of her release, but the fox was our first priority.
When I carried her next to my heart while walking, as the traffic rolled by, she smelled faintly like skunk. At one point, with her in the car's backseat, I idly pulled weed seeds from her fur while making more phone calls. She was beyond beautiful, and one thoughtless human action, throwing a container out of a car, could have killed her. Our trash kills, our cars kill, our chemicals kill, our developments kill, our windows kill, our domestic cats kill, our industrial farms kill... our beautiful wild neighbors... What have we done to this planet?”
Kristi was able to capture two photos of the fox while she made calls to colleagues for assistance. Safe for the day, she will continue to roam in our forests, and occasionally roadsides. Every day, we try to make this region a safer, healthier, and beautiful place to live. As Kristi said, reflecting on this experience, “The task is immense, but we must TRY.”
Thank you Kristi and Rebekah, for your love of this planet and its creatures, and for going above and beyond to rescue and care for one of our own. SOLC is honored to have folks like you on the team.
BRAVA!
Please leave wildlife alone for your safety and their own. If an animal is in distress, ask for assistance from the Wildlife Officers with Oregon State Police or another qualified professional.
