Rescues Battle to catch Fox at 200 year old Martello Tower

Rescuers from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) were called to help rescue a fox which had fallen into the moat of the 200 year old Seaford Martello Tower yesterday ( 8th Oct 2019).

Volunteers at the Tower which is now a museum of local history, noticed the fox had invaded the moat of the Tower when then opened up the moat doorway. The fox was running around jumping up the brick wall in desperation to escape. In fear the fox was going to injury himself volunteer John Bond called WRAS for help.

“When we arrived the fox was hidden behind a shed, but as soon as it saw us it start running around and jumping up the walls trying to get out, it was clear this rescue was not going to be straight forward and a bit of a battle to catch him” said WRAS founder Trevor Weeks.

Rescuers obtained rescue equipment from their ambulance and worked out a their battle plan  to try and catch the fox either on top of the shed, where the fox kept attempting to jump out of the moat or behind the shed where the fox was more enclosed.

The fox had already damaged a nail from trying to jump up the brick wall and was leaving small marks of blood as it ran.

“The fox was extremely fast and the first few attempt to catch the fox was unsuccessful” said Trevor, “however as the fox kept running behind the shed we used this to our advantage, and tried to block it in. Being tired from running laps round the moat floor, the fox tried to hide giving us the ideal opportunity to confine and secure the fox using a dog grasper.”

Trevor working from the shed roof and rescuer Thea Taylor working on the ground were able to slowly restrict the fox to a smaller and smaller area till eventually they were able to cover the fox and get a dog grasper on him. “I was then able to scruff the fox and lift him to the waiting fox cage where we could then check him for injuries. Luckily there was nothing seriously wrong but he had worn his nails down trying to climb out. That was a struggle but a battle we were pleased to win for the foxes sake.”

Rescuers decided not to release him straight away due to the traffic in the area at that time of day, so he was transported to WRAS’s Casualty Centre for a hearty meal and a rest before being returned to Seaford about 8pm where he was released close to the scene of the rescue.

“It was a blustery evening but the fox was clearly ready to go, and shot off out the cage as soon as the door was opened and legged it off into the distance. The final victory was clear the foxes!” said Thea.

-END-

THIS VIDEO FOOTAGE IS PROPERTY OF EAST SUSSEX WILDLIFE RESCUE & AMBULANCE SERVICE. IT IS FREE FOR LOCAL TV, RADIO, NEWSPAPER AND OTHER EAST SUSSEX MEDIA TO USE. FOR ALL OTHER USE PLEASE CONTACT EAST SUSSEX WRAS ON 01825-873003.

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