Just before Christmas, a Derbyshire couple - Philip and Jane Carter - looked out on their back garden (American: yard) and saw something they could not quite believe. Though they had seen foxes out there before, they had never seen one with only two legs!
It is likely that this fox was born that way. Losing both its back legs through traumatic injury would have almost certainly resulted in death because mobility is essential for a fox's survival. This clever creature appears to have not known anything else so from birth it has been forced to adapt, using its bushy tail for balance.
This is not a very early April Fools prank - I can assure you of that. Here is the video evidence taken from the main BBC News evening programme last week...
A rather amazing story and I am surprised commercial media here hasn't picked it up.
ReplyDeleteThey might have seen it on Fox News!
DeleteFoxy. Poor wee cratur ...
ReplyDeleteAnd what a will to survive !
Years ago I was walking into town, past the Glasgow School of Art which had not yet burnt down, and saw a young man in a kilt getting out of his car in Cambridge Street.
He looked as if he was reaching back for a child but he unfolded a wheelchair and then carried out a beautiful young woman.
It was a perfect summer's morning.
She looked as if she was having the worst day of her life.
A victim perhaps of a traffic accident in which she lost the use of her legs ...
I can understand why that moment lodged in your memory.
DeleteThe amazing ability to adapt is not just a human trait, is it?
ReplyDeleteLike us, a fox only has one shot at life.
DeleteAdaptability. We could learn a thing or two.
ReplyDeleteI refuse to remove two of my limbs.
DeleteWow. It is amazing what animals/humans can adapt to, especially from birth. The fox looks healthy though. I'm surprised it wasn't killed at birth by it's mother, if foxes do that. I know some animals do.
ReplyDeleteI put "Do foxes kill their young?" into Google but the resulting information was unclear.
DeletePoor little fox! Amazing that it made it to adulthood. So many baby animals die early, especially when something is wrong with them.
ReplyDeleteYes. Something of a miracle.
DeleteNo one will out fox that fox.
ReplyDeleteFor fox sake Dave!
DeleteThat's quite incredible. What marvellous balance and agility it's learned. The loss of it's two back legs doesn't seem to have slowed it down at all. I wonder if people put food out for it - I know I would.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast, I would don a red hunting jacket and a black peaked helmet. Then galloping on a well-fed horse with a pack of hounds I would hunt that two legged creature down, crying "Tally-ho!" as we bounded over garden fences till we reached Mr and Mrs Carter's lawn.
DeleteWell done Mr ( or Mrs) Fox !
ReplyDeleteI opened an email yesterday eve to find your Ian on the front cover of the Pets at Home magazine. ....and a video of Henry and Ian talking about chippy the dog! They are getting very well known! When I go to the shop and pick up my copy I can say ..." I know his Dad! " Fame by association though rather a long shot!
Thanks for this Frances. I have copied it and sent it to Ian in an e-mail. They should be linking to the magazine in their social media.
DeleteI, too, saw it on television and was duly impressed. I hope it manages to stay out of harms way now that everyone knows about it.
ReplyDeleteIt could make a lot of money if it entered "Britain's Got Talent".
DeleteI too had seen this reported. I suppose if we lose a leg, we only have one left and balance is difficult. If a four-legged animal loses a leg or two, it can still manage to balance. But still amazing nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite uplifting.
DeleteWow! I have never seen anything quite like that. You gotta admire that fox! As Ms. Moon said in her post today, quoting Kurt Vonnegut, "Life. There is just no stopping it."
ReplyDeleteHe or she has set a good example for the rest of us.
DeleteI never thought I would read about fox news on this blog!
ReplyDeleteIf Fox News was like this I would watch it all the time.
DeleteAmazing! Both SWMBO (who loves foxes) and I thought it was a small kangaroo when we separately each saw the photo.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have a pouch and can't sing "Waltzing Matilda".
Delete