For almost a decade now, Dora Nightingale has been a determined fox rescuer who does everything in her power to ensure that these precious animals receive the respect they deserve.
Becoming the founder of Fox Guardians, Nightingale’s mission was to teach others about foxes and inspire them to treat these adorable fur babies with love and compassion.
Ever since, all of the neighborhood foxes have considered her garden a safe haven where they can retreat, relax, and grow. One such fox is a beautiful girl named Babybelle.
The Cutest Surprise Ever
Since Babybelle has been an adorable visitor in Nightingales’ yard for over two years now, everybody considers her a part of the family.
However, one day, Nightingale noticed Babybelle acting a little bit differently. She was standing guard in front of an old dog house that was sitting in the yard, refusing to move from her spot no matter what.
Deciding to investigate, Nightingale found out that Babybelle was guarding the most adorable thing ever.
“I went out to feed the birds and spotted the tiny cubs wiggling in the shelter,” Nightingale told The Dodo.
Nightingale assumes that somebody probably destroyed the nest Babybelle built before giving birth, making her worried for the safety of her babies.
Nightingale The Nanny
In all of her years running Fox Guardians, Nightingale has never been put in a situation like this, so she thought it was best to consult a professional.
Usually, fox cubs are supposed to be hidden away, so other wildlife rescuers, as well as the vet, told Nightingale to only keep a close eye on Babybelle and her babies, trusting that the mama has everything under control.
And she indeed did!
“The footage showed that mum visited the cubs every two hours to nurse and groom them, and then after sunset carried one cub after the other off to the new den that is located near my garden,” Nightingale said.
Even though it wasn’t easy work to transfer all five cubs, as she did have to jump over a fence each time, this determined mama did everything she had to do to ensure the safety of her litter. Watching her grow up into such a caring mother filled Nightingale’s heart with immense pride.
“People comment on what an honor it is that a wild animal trusts me so much to place her precious babies in my garden, knowing they will be safe from harm. And I agree, it is so touching and I am honored and absolutely delighted that the little old dog kennel played an important part in potentially saving the lives of the extremely vulnerable five cubs,” Nightingale said.
For Nightingale, being a fox guardian for almost a decade is a truly indescribable feeling. However, she wants every hooman out there to know that if a fox family stumbles upon your yard and uses it as a temporary home, please let them be.
“Foxes play a very important role in our ecosystem … and they need to live somewhere. Natural habitats for wildlife are ever-shrinking, so let a fox share your wild space for a while. The cubs will eventually disperse in late summer. In the meantime, enjoy the show — it’s ‘only’ Disney Live unfolding on your lawn!” Nightingale concluded.