After spotting a fox caught in chain-link fencing during a morning walk with his dog in Montecito, resident Paul Rooney went home to call for help. Firefighters later cut the animal loose and released it back into the wild.
Here's what to know
According to Noozhawk, Rooney noticed the fox at about 8 a.m. while walking his dog, Angel. Crews were sent at about 8:30 a.m. after he reported the animal.
Montecito Fire District spokesperson Christina Atchison said the fox was then safely released into its natural habitat after firefighter Charles Spencer "held the fox steady" while firefighter-paramedic Shaun Whilt "carefully snipped the fence" to free it, Noozhawk reported.
The fox was trapped in chain-link fencing in a residential area, illustrating how easily human-made obstacles can harm wildlife where neighborhoods and habitat overlap.
More background
Because he wasn't carrying a cell phone on the walk, Rooney told Noozhawk he had to go home before calling the Montecito Fire Department.
"I couldn't just not do nothing," Rooney said. "[The firefighters] are unbelievable — not only for fire, but for things like this. If nobody noticed [the fox], I don't think it would've survived."
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As encounters between wild animals and humans become more common where development overlaps with habitat, everyday infrastructure can pose serious dangers to animals, even without intent to harm them.
What's being done?
Because the fox was trapped by fencing rather than a natural feature, the hazard may be preventable. Human-built barriers can determine whether an animal moves through safely or ends up needing rescue.
"The fox was safely released back into its natural habitat," Atchison said, according to Noozhawk. "We're glad we could help this furry little community member get out of a tight spot and back where it belongs."
Where can I learn more?
These stories look further at what can happen when wildlife runs into fences, neighborhoods, and other parts of the built environment.
• At Sweetbriar Nature Center, a three-legged fox kit recovered after a New York fence rescue.
• In Dallas, officials weighed lethal force for coyotes after a troubling neighborhood encounter.
• Across parts of Africa, costly clashes with wildlife intensified where communities border animal habitat.
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