May 27, 2026, 10:52 am | Read time: 14 minutes

“More Than Ten Thousand Cases Annually in the Fox Aid Network”

Daniel Peller is the founder of the nationwide “Fox Aid” and has been intensely involved in wildlife and especially fox protection for many years. The former mechatronics engineer advises thousands of people annually on fox emergencies with his network and is now a sought-after contact for authorities and media regarding foxes and wildlife aid.

PETBOOK: Mr. Peller, how many emergencies do you handle each year?

“When I founded Fox Aid in 2017, I knew there was a need for a central point of contact for fox emergencies. However, I was surprised by the number of inquiries: Since the founding, I personally receive around 1,000 inquiries per year.

Fox Aid is organized as a nationwide network. Through our website, people can find contacts in their region, so many cases are handled directly by the respective local offices. Overall, I estimate that the entire ‘Fox Aid Network’ handles significantly more than ten thousand cases annually.”

Is it always about acute rescue operations?
“No, not always. Many people also contact us with general questions about foxes, such as the behavior of foxes in the neighborhood or problems that can arise from foxes in residential areas. Our goal is to provide competent advice, show animal welfare-friendly solutions, and–if necessary–provide professional wildlife aid for injured, sick, or orphaned foxes.”

What are the most common reasons for real fox emergencies? Does it mostly concern young animals or adult foxes?
“On average, it more often concerns adult animals. These often stand out due to injuries, poor fur condition, or unusual behavior–either on wildlife cameras or directly near humans. Some have been injured in traffic, others attacked by free-roaming dogs or cats. Others suffer from severe parasite infestations or diseases like distemper, which is fatal for foxes.”

But currently, reports about cubs are increasing?
“Yes, seasonally, many inquiries currently revolve around fox cubs. Truly injured or sick cubs are rarely reported. More often, it concerns young animals seen alone and possibly orphaned.

With adult foxes, it is often relatively easy to assess whether help is needed. With cubs, it is much more difficult because it is not always clear whether they are actually orphaned or not.”

Also interesting: How should I behave if I encounter a fox?

When a Fox Cub Really Needs Help

When is a fox cub truly an emergency?
“There are some clear warning signs. For example, if dead cubs or dead adult animals have already been found near the den. Another warning sign is drooping, limp ears–this usually indicates severe dehydration and that the cubs have not been cared for in a while.

Visible wounds or fly infestation are also clear indications of an emergency. Additionally, behavior often reveals that something is wrong: If cubs appear apathetic, do not play, tremble, have seizures, run in circles, or collapse, urgent help is usually needed.”

Not Every Lone Young Fox is Orphaned

And what is considered normal behavior?
“It is normal for fox cubs up to about six weeks old to show little fear of humans. It is also normal for parents to leave them alone temporarily or for the cubs to explore the area around the den.

However, if cubs deliberately run towards people and call with a trilling bark, it is usually a distress signal.”

For laypeople, this is still often difficult to assess.
“Absolutely. Even for experts, it is sometimes difficult to decide whether intervention is really necessary. Many supposedly orphaned or sick cubs are only seen briefly in the semi-darkness. At the same time, fox parents are often extremely cautious and remain unnoticed when they return to the den to care for their young.

Therefore, descriptions alone are often not enough to safely assess the situation.”

How should one proceed instead?
“Ideally, photos or videos should be used to better assess the age and condition of the cubs. If the situation does not appear to be acutely critical, further information should be gathered before intervening.

A wildlife camera can be helpful, for example. It can be used to observe whether the cubs are still being cared for by an adult fox once no people are nearby. Additionally, a wildlife aid knowledgeable about foxes can provide tips on what to pay special attention to during observation.”

“Better to Seek Advice Too Early Than Too Late”

What are the most common mistakes people make when dealing with foxes?
“One of the most common mistakes is that people contact wildlife aid too late. Some observe a fox with increasingly poor fur condition for days or even weeks before seeking help. As a result, foxes with mange are often only reported when the disease is already advanced.

Mange can often be treated well in the early stages. The later intervention occurs, the worse the prognosis becomes–sometimes help comes too late. Therefore, the rule is: Better to seek advice too early than too late. No one will hold it against you if it turns out in the end that no help was needed.”

Why Misguided Animal Love Can Endanger Fox Cubs

Early intervention can also be problematic?
“Yes, absolutely. Especially with fox cubs, it unfortunately happens repeatedly that people simply take the animals with them, even though they did not need help. Many then see themselves as rescuers–in reality, they often harm the animals more than they help.

Cubs are often discovered alone on their first exploratory tours. Some people then fear they might be orphaned, run over, or killed by a hunter, and therefore take them with them. However, it is completely normal behavior for cubs to be out without their parents for a while.”

Why is it so problematic to simply take fox cubs or raise them yourself?
“First, one must understand that foxes are generally exposed to dangers like traffic or hunting everywhere. As a species, they cope with it. Our task cannot be to preemptively remove healthy animals from nature.

Additionally, resources in wildlife aid are extremely limited. Most helpers work voluntarily alongside their jobs and families, and much is privately funded or financed through donations. At the same time, there is a lack of qualified care facilities for real emergencies. Therefore, we are constantly forced to prioritize.

Every unnecessarily taken cub occupies a care spot that might later be needed for a truly sick or injured animal. In the worst case, this can mean that other animals may not receive help later.”

That’s why you also try to return unnecessarily taken cubs?
“Exactly. If cubs have been unnecessarily taken, it should be seriously considered whether a return is possible. This means bringing the animals back to their parents as quickly as possible under controlled conditions.

This can even work up to a week after removal–even if the cubs have already received medical care and been intensively cared for by humans.”

When the Fox Mother Searches for Her Cubs

You experienced a particularly striking case.
“Yes. Fox cubs suddenly appeared in a garden. The owners observed them for a while but did not see an adult fox and therefore assumed the cubs were orphaned. So they collected the animals.

By the time I heard about the case, almost a week had passed. The cubs had already been to the vet, treated for parasites, and passed through several hands until they finally ended up at an animal welfare organization. There, they were looking for a care facility and contacted my network.

In conversation with the finders, it then emerged that an adult fox had been regularly appearing in the garden for several days, searching around. It was the mother looking for her cubs.”

Was the family able to be reunited?
“Yes, fortunately. We organized a return attempt and placed the cubs in an open box in a sheltered spot in the garden. The fox mother actually returned and found the cubs. In the end, the family left the garden together.

It was a happy ending–but all the stress for animals and humans could have been avoided if expert advice had been sought before removal.”

Can You Raise Fox Cubs Yourself?

What risks arise when laypeople try to raise fox cubs themselves?
“There are many problems. Cubs often die from improper nutrition or treatment. Particularly critical is that young foxes are often treated with unsuitable or overdosed medications–such as spot-ons, dewormers, or flea sprays that they cannot tolerate.

There is also the risk of imprinting. Because young foxes appear cute and show little fear, people often allow close contact–even with children or pets. This is not only problematic because foxes can transmit diseases, but it also means enormous stress for the animals.”

How do professional wildlife stations handle such cases?
“Professional stations try to minimize human contact to the necessary minimum. After quarantine, the cubs are socialized with conspecifics and have no contact with pets.

In contrast, laypeople often keep foxes alone–for example, in the bathroom or basement–and treat them like pets. Some even socialize them with the family dog. As a result, the animals later lose their natural fear of humans and dogs.”

Why is this so dangerous in the long term?
“Even imprinted foxes develop a strong urge for freedom once they are grown. They can never truly be tamed and are not happy in captivity. At the same time, they often cannot be successfully released back into the wild later because they lack a connection to conspecifics and respect for humans and pets.

“Some owners simply release such animals once the attempt at ‘taming’ has failed. These foxes can then become noticeable as so-called problem foxes.”

You suspect that some of the noticeable cases in the media are related to this?
“Yes. I am quite sure that the fox in Berlin-Reinickendorf, whose unusual behavior towards humans and dogs was reported, was an imprinted hand-reared animal.”

“Foxes Must Remain Wild Animals”

What do you advise people who believe they need to help a fox?
“Above all: no self-attempts. Anyone who thinks a fox needs help should always contact a knowledgeable wildlife aid as quickly as possible and seek advice. And one must be aware: Foxes are wild animals–and they must remain wild animals. We cannot protect them from all the dangers of life. Misguided animal love has unfortunately already caused a lot of unnecessary suffering.”

These Are the Places Finders Should Contact

Who should you contact if you discover a fox in distress?
“Our experience unfortunately shows that you often cannot expect truly meaningful help from traditional animal welfare organizations, pet veterinarians, authorities, fire departments, police, or even hunters–especially if there is a lack of specific knowledge about foxes.”

You experienced a particularly drastic case.
“Yes. Recently, a fox cub was discovered on the tracks of a subway station. The fire department secured the animal and handed it over to the police. There, they apparently believed that a fox does not belong in the city but in the forest–so they promptly released the cub in a forest area.

That was fatal. Foxes often deliberately build their dens near railway tracks and rely on their territory. The cub was not only unnecessarily separated from its family but also released in a completely unfamiliar area where its parents could never have found it. Additionally, it was far too young to survive alone.”

Was the animal able to be found?
“Unfortunately not. After we learned about the case from the press on the same day, a helper tried for hours to find out exactly where the cub had been released. However, there were only contradictory or vague details. Even the idea of using search dogs failed because there were no scent traces of the cub left. Unfortunately, the police car in which the fox was transported had been thoroughly cleaned. It is highly likely that the cub later starved.”

What do you recommend instead?
“In wildlife emergencies, you should contact a specialized wildlife aid directly. Networks like Fox Aid can initially provide advice and then connect you with suitable contacts on-site. Similar networks also exist for other wildlife such as hedgehogs, martens, or birds of prey.

The new app “Wildlife SOS” from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation can also be helpful. It provides information on assessing emergencies and shows contacts in the region. However, you should specifically select wildlife aids there, as authorities or hunting organizations are also listed.”

What is Legally Allowed in an Emergency

Many people are also unsure about what is legally allowed.
“The basic rule is: In an emergency, animal welfare-friendly help always takes precedence. It is by no means forbidden to help an injured or needy fox without first contacting a hunter–even though this is often claimed. In some cases, the law does not even require informing the responsible hunting authority, let alone asking for permission or release. Generally, it is sufficient to inform the hunter or police immediately after resolving the emergency situation about a removal.”

More on the topic

Helpless Animal Youngsters Found a Baby Hedgehog in Your Garden? Here’s What to Do

Attacks on People and Dogs Expert on Fox Attacks in Berlin: “Behavior Fits a Misimprinting”

How Professional Raising of Fox Cubs Works

How does professional raising in a wildlife station work?
“Foxes are very social animals. For their development, it is important that they grow up, play, and socialize with conspecifics. Therefore, individual cubs are socialized with foxes of the same age after quarantine.

They then grow up in small groups with as little human contact as possible and without contact with pets. Later, they are usually released together.”

Some stations even work with adult foxes?
“Yes, that is indeed very exciting. In some rescue stations, older foxes live that, for various reasons, could no longer be released. Some of these animals take on the role of foster parents for new cubs.

They take care of grooming, play with the young animals, or bring them food. This is a great benefit for all parties: The cubs grow up almost naturally with adult conspecifics, the adult foxes have a task, and the human caregivers are relieved.”

What else is part of professional raising?
“This includes many things: good medical care, species-appropriate nutrition, activity opportunities, and careful preparation for freedom. The animals are prepared for later release in natural outdoor enclosures.

Not without reason, authorities today require proof of expertise and certain conditions for enclosures and facilities before someone is officially recognized as a care facility.”

Can the animals be released back into the wild without problems after raising?
“If foxes are raised professionally, release usually works very well. The goal of all measures in wildlife aid is ultimately to prepare the animals as best as possible for an independent life in freedom. Legally, it is also required that wild animals must be released again as soon as they are independently viable.

Release usually occurs for foxes in late summer or fall.”

Foxes Must Not Be Released in a Foreign Area

The method of release is apparently also crucial.
“Exactly. The worst variant is the so-called hard release–that is, suddenly releasing animals in a foreign area. The foxes are then immediately under pressure, must find food and shelter, and assert themselves against other foxes. Not all survive this.

Therefore, soft release is recommended. In this method, the animals initially remain in a special release enclosure at the future release site for a few weeks. When the enclosure is opened, they can decide for themselves when to go out. They can explore the surroundings step by step and return to the protected enclosure at any time, where food is still provided for them for a few more weeks.”

Why is this method not used more often?
“Unfortunately, many care facilities do not have the opportunity to do so. The problem is not that foxes cannot cope in nature after wildlife care–on the contrary: Professionally raised foxes usually behave just as shyly and inconspicuously as wild-raised animals.

The real problem is the lack of opportunities for legal and gentle release through soft release. Therefore, we at Fox Aid are constantly looking for fox-friendly hunters or owners of larger natural areas where we are allowed to release animals.”