Firefighters rescue three fox cubs trapped between houses

By Ed Chatterton

Three orphaned fox cubs were released back into the wild four months after they became trapped in a small gap between two houses.

Firefighters were forced to smash through the brickwork on a garage in Leicester after the 12-week-old cubs got stuck between two walls on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Rescue teams were called to Letchworth Road after receiving reports from neighbors saying they could hear a fox crying in distress.

Crews were stunned to discover three young cubs wedged in a 6-inch (15cm) gap before lifting them to safety.

The young foxes have since been cared for by Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital where staff nursed them back to full health.

The trio was set free all together at an undisclosed location last week.

Sharing footage on social media, the hospital said: "The three cubs have been in our care, learning all the essential skills needed for life back in the wild - enjoying digging and searching for their food, alongside lots of enrichment.

"Last week, it was time for their release. Here, they are being support fed for a while until they have adjusted to life back in the wild!"

The cheeky cubs had run down a small gap between two houses, but the gap had continued to narrow.

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Firefighters rescue three fox cubs trapped between houses

One of them had to be given oxygen therapy, using a specialist mask for small animals.

Amy Blower, team leader at the charity, told the BBC: "One of them was particularly poorly and was on oxygen overnight at a local vet's and it wasn't certain if it would pull through, but thankfully it did.

"They've been digging holes like they would dig a den, so we knew they'd be capable of building their own in the wild.

"They will be support fed for a minimum of two weeks until they've adjusted to finding their own food.

"It was quite an exhilarating feeling seeing them go back into the wild.

"All of our volunteers have worked really hard to get them to that point.

"It's obviously a feeling of relief and excitement for their future out there as well."

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said previously: "Our Technical Rescue Team from Southern Station were called to a house on Letchworth Road in Leicester, where a fox could be heard trapped between two buildings.

"They were given permission to remove brickwork from the garage by the homeowner, and found not one, not two, but three trapped cubs.

"All were recovered safely, with one given oxygen therapy via our specialist mask for small animals, and were then left with the RSPCA for treatment. What a fantastic result.

"Remember - never attempt to rescue an animal in distress if it means putting yourself in danger - always contact the appropriate animal rescue organization."