A gray fox that was injured in the Airport Fire last September returned to the wild after five months of rehabilitation at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center.
According to a news release by the organization, the fox was brought under their care by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Sept. 30, 2024. CDFW officials found the fox with second- and third-degree burns on its paw pads.
The fox was released in Orange County on Sunday, not far from where he was originally found during the Airport Fire. The wildfire, which broke out Sept. 9 in Trabuco Canyon, exploded by thousands of acres overnight and devastated over a hundred homes in both Orange and Riverside Counties.
Video of the fox’s quick scurry back into the wild was shared on social media.
The Humane Society said the fox had lost several of its digits, nails and paw pads during the fire, and it needed daily treatment by the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife medical team to survive. See the photos below.
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A gray fox was treated for injuries at the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona. (San Diego Humane Society) -
A gray fox was treated for injuries at the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona. (San Diego Humane Society) -
A gray fox was treated for injuries at the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona. (San Diego Humane Society) -
A gray fox was treated for injuries at the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona. (San Diego Humane Society) -
A gray fox was treated for injuries at the San Diego Humane Society’s Wildlife Center in Ramona. (San Diego Humane Society)
The medical and rehabilitation teams at Project Wildlife monitored him closely to determine if he could adapt to life in the wild again despite his permanent injuries.
“This animal was left defenseless with life-threatening wounds from the Airport Fire,” said Alexis Wohl, the wildlife veterinary manager of the Project Wildlife program. “His prognosis was guarded for a long time, but in the end, he ultimately overcame his injuries so he could return home.”
Part of the rehabilitation efforts included transitioning the fox from the indoor hospital to an outdoor enclosure and watching him regain his physical abilities to climb and jump toward the end of his recovery period, according to the release.
