A fox cub that got covered in bitumen and then stuck to a road surface has been released back into the wild after three and a half months of treatment.
Staff from South Essex Wildlife Hospital came to the rescue after the cub was pulled from a container of bitumen by workers on an industrial estate in north-east London in May.
It took more than 30 minutes to free each of the cub’s legs after it was stuck fast to the road, and one leg required extensive surgery.
Releasing the fully recovered fox safely this week, staff wrote on Facebook: “It’s honestly impossible to put into words how much his progress has meant to our team.”
The fox was finally took its leap to freedom after months of care [South Essex Wildlife Hospital]
Bitumen is made from crude oil and is mostly used as a binder in roads.
At the time of the rescue, the hospital said the fox’s plight was “one of the most horrific cases we’ve seen in the 35-plus years of wildlife rescue”.
It took several days and many bottles of baby oil and WD-40 to clean the tar-like substance from its fur.
Staff edited together a number of images of the cub seen here shortly after it arrived [South Essex Wildlife Hospital]
Delighted staff wrote after his release: “Three months and 17 days. That’s how long it took for this young fox to be given a second chance back in the wild.
“When we first saw this boy, he was stuck to the road and covered in bitumen. It’s taken countless washes and a very complex surgery to get him back on his feet, but his final leap to freedom makes every single second worth it.”
They described his recovery as “amazing” and thanked the many people who had shared his story and donated to the charity.
“Tar fox is finally free,” they added.
“The end of an era… good luck little fox – keep out of trouble.”
The fox cub had been cared for at the hospital for months [South Essex Wildlife Hospital]
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