Key Facts
- Resident
- Ava Tassos, 62, East Kildonan
- Rescue helper
- Paul Karnafel, owner of The DogFather Rescue
- Fox name
- Trent (after Trent Street)
- Condition
- Mange on hips and ears
- First sighting
- End of May
- Rehabilitation centre
- Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, Iles-de-Chenes
Background
Ava Tassos, a 62-year-old resident of East Kildonan, first spotted an injured fox near her Trent Street home at the end of May. The fox, later named Trent by Paul Karnafel, owner of The DogFather Rescue, had mange on its hips and ears and was clearly unwell.
Tassos set up a feeder for animals in the area, and Trent began visiting up to five times a day. She attempted to trap him about a month ago, managing to confine him in the feeder, but the fox escaped before provincial conservation officers arrived.
Current Situation
On Sunday, Tassos, with Karnafel's help, successfully captured the fox. Karnafel, who had never caught a fox before, built a trap disguised as a feeder, with a net held up by a piece of wood and a wire. When the fox was in position, Tassos pulled the cable, and the animal was scooped up with a fishing net and placed in a kennel.
Karnafel then delivered Trent to Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre in Iles-de-Chenes. The entire capture took about three hours. Karnafel noted that the fox was easier to catch than most of his feral cats.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Months of attempts | more than two months |
| Daily visits | up to five times a day |
| Capture duration | about three hours |
| Tassos age | 62 |
Impacts
The rescue gives Trent a second chance at life. Karnafel said that in the city, the fox could have died from being hit by a car or from the mange, but now it will get healthy and be released into the wild.
Tassos expressed gratitude to everyone involved, saying she was extremely disappointed after the first failed attempt but refused to give up. She spent countless nights monitoring camera feeds and trying to sneak up on the fox with a fishing net.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If Trent responds well to treatment at the rehabilitation centre, it may be released into the wild in a suitable location. Karnafel expressed hope that the fox will have a good life after recovery.
The successful rescue could encourage similar community efforts for injured wildlife, though the outcome depends on the fox's health and the centre's assessment. If the mange is severe, recovery may take longer, but the immediate threat of urban dangers has been removed.
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
