The fox even had its own Instagram account.

Most folks know that when encountering wildlife here in Colorado, the best thing to do is to snap a quick picture, or just catalog it to memory, and move on. Interacting with wildlife other than simply passing by is harmful to the animals and disturbs the balance of their habitat. 

Unfortunately, not everyone honors the rules and guidelines to leave wild animals alone.

An Instagram account recently alerted Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) to a woman in Colorado Springs, who, two years ago, found a baby red fox in the wild and brought it home. The woman claimed to have rescued the animal, and rather than call CPW or another animal welfare organization, she raised it as her pet. 

The fox was raised in captivity, and the woman documented the animal’s life on Instagram. Posts and videos of the fox dated back to May 4, 2018, showing the fox walking on a leash, in a dog collar, eating human food, and living in a chain-link cage, according to CPW. The initial post for the account starts with the woman describing a "rescue," though CPW calls the act of taking an animal from the wild and raising it in captivity "kidnapping." It is illegal to possess a wild animal in Colorado—a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fee. 

There are several wild animal rehabilitation facilities in the state, and as Frank McGee, CPW’s Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region, explains, taking them home—though it may seem kind—is the wrong thing to do. 

“Wild animals belong in the wild. Period,” McGee said in a press release. “People cannot take care of wildlife better than their parents. It is selfish and irresponsible to take these animals from the wild. It takes specialized education and training to handle wild animals, whether it’s deer, raccoons, birds, or whatever. People often think they are helping when they pick up wildlife. They are not. These are wild animals. They are not meant to live in captivity.”

CPW officers confiscated the fox late last week and, sadly, determined the animal could not survive if released into the wild. The decision was made to euthanize the animal. This was the worst possible outcome for all involved.

Officials at CPW did not disclose the Instagram account.

CPW asks people to leave wildlife alone, even if it appears that a baby animal requires help. The best thing to do is to call them so that professionals can determine what steps need to be taken and get the animal to an appropriate rehabilitation facility. Human homes and food are not healthy for wild animals, and this can lead to a sick or hostile animal, as well as a dangerous situation for all. 

CPW has always advised avoiding animal conflict and has several tips and guidelines for how to safely interact with wildlife. Learn more on their website about how to keep everyone, especially the animals, safe from a confusing and potentially harmful situation.

“In most situations, people and wildlife can coexist. The key is to respect the wildness of wildlife. "Wildlife" is just that—wild. Most dangerous and potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave the animals alone. Wildlife should not be harassed, captured, domesticated, or fed," says CPW.

Where is your favorite place to see wildlife in Colorado? Any fun photos or videos? Share with us in the comments.