PHOENIX — A would-be rescue for a litter of "kittens" turned out to be a little more wild than anyone bargained for.
"The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) reminds our community, Don't Kitnap Kittens... Or fox kits for that matter!" spokeswoman Kelsey Dickerson said in a press release on Wednesday.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Un buen samaritano pensó que estaba rescatando una camada de 'gatitos' pero en realidad estaba equivocado
Earlier in April, a local resident found a den full of baby animals behind their shed. Wanting to do right by the animals, they took the kits to AHS for a medical checkup.
Unfortunately, that's not always the right approach. The young animal's mother is going to offer the best chance of survival, and human intervention can often separate them.
That, and after some early examinations, the experts quickly realized that this was a litter of Grey Foxes! The foxes were transferred to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center where they will be raised and rehabilitated for eventual release into the wild.
"When people find a litter of kittens, their first instinct is to rush to the aid of these fragile felines. Thankfully, human intervention is typically not required," Dickerson explained. "In fact, the best thing we can do is leave the kittens alone. Mom will likely return shortly, and it’s critical that the kittens remain in her care as she offers the best chance for survival."
If you find a litter of kittens that appears abandoned, don't jump in right away. Instead, watch them for a while. If the mom doesn't return after eight hours or so, then the kittens may be abandoned.
AHS offers care kits for people to take care of orphaned kittens until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered.
To learn more about what to do if you find a litter of kittens, visit azhumane.org/foundkittens. To learn more about what to do if you find a litter of wild animals, visit southwestwildlife.org.
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