Happy ending for rehabilitated fox

A fox found trapped in a fence surrounding The Queen’s Tower was released back into the wild on Friday 6th of January after over two months recovery and undergoing surgery at Tiggywinkles, a Wildlife Hospital near Aylesbury.

Volunteer Derek from Tiggywinkles was called out to the scene to rescue the fox, who was named ‘Lorretta’ after Earth Trust’s Neighbourhood Wildlife Warden Lorretta Waters. Ms Waters was first notified of the incident by a member of the public on the eve of Halloween. The Queen’s Tower is part of one of the remnants of Wallingford Castle at Wallingford Castle Meadows.

‘Lorretta’ underwent surgery on 4th of November to partially amputate his rear leg, and has since made a full recovery. According to Derek, two other foxes at Twiggywinkles had similar operations recently and were not as lucky - they did not survive. He had his final check-up with the dentist to clean his teeth the day before his release.

The fox was released into a scrubby area at Wallingford Castle Meadows called the Spinney, a vegetated area with plenty of shelter close to where he was originally found.

After initially hiding under the newspaper in his cage, ‘Loretta’ quickly scampered out and ran off into the surrounding shrubbery. We wish him well!