She was walking along the trail when a flash of movement caught her eye; a small, rust-colored creature slipping cautiously between the trees.
At first, the woman from Pennsylvania assumed it was just another woodland animal passing by. Then something unusual around its neck made her pause.
A faint glimmer hugged the fur, blending almost seamlessly with the fallen leaves. The creature froze when she did, head lowered, breathing fast. Something felt wrong. Her camera lowered, curiosity turning into worry.
In that suspended moment, she understood this was no ordinary sighting; the animal was signaling for help.
A Cry For Help
Julie Bernstein’s day began like any other, but looking out her window changed everything. She spotted the animal struggling and immediately recognized it wasn’t a typical encounter.
It was a fox, and he had something tight around his neck that clearly shouldn’t be there. Julie called Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center (Aark) in Pennsylvania to set up a camera and monitor his movements.
Observing him closely, she realized a piece of tubing had gotten stuck on the fox’s neck, causing significant distress.
Amanda Leyden, who works at Aark, told The Dodo: “The object around his neck was likely a section of drainage pipe. Small animals sometimes take shelter in these pipes, and a curious fox may stick its head inside to investigate or hunt, only to find itself stuck when trying to back out.”
Aark advised that the safest solution was to capture him so they could provide proper care.
Because he was naturally wary of humans, Julie had to earn his trust first. Her plan was to help him relax and feel safe enough to approach.
Gaining Trust And Ensuring Safety
She established a feeding station near her property and monitored the fox’s behavior closely. Over time, he grew more comfortable around her presence, allowing her to prepare a humane trap.
As days passed, he edged closer to the trap, responding to her patient guidance. She said: “Foxes are extremely intelligent and cautious. So this process took quite a bit of time and patience.”
Eventually, he stepped inside, and the rescue succeeded. Julie discovered that the fox, now named Tubey, was in excellent health.
Once secured, he was transported to Aark. The team sedated him carefully and began removing the tubing from his neck.
He underwent a thorough health check, but aside from the trapped tube, Tubey was remarkably healthy.
Leyden said: “Once Tubey woke up fully from sedation, he appeared noticeably calmer. He settled comfortably in his crate, alert but no longer panicked, which was a big change from his arrival.”
With the tube removed and all treatments complete, Julie returned Tubey to the spot where she first spotted him, releasing him back into his natural environment.
The outcome was extraordinary, giving the fox a safe return to the wild and a second chance at a normal life.