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Fox to receive permanent home at wildlife preserve

Fox to receive permanent home at wildlife preserve An abandoned fox that has captured the hearts and wallets of Yukoners will soon have a permanent home at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

An abandoned fox that has captured the hearts and wallets of Yukoners will soon have a permanent home at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve.

The fox arrived at the preserve in mid-April after being found in the Marsh Lake area. It was so small that many were unsure, at first, of what exactly it was.

Soon after its arrival to the preserve staff began the “Definitely a Fox” fundraising campaign with the goal of hitting $10,000 by the end of August.

To date, they have raised $19,913 in cash and in-kind donations.

On Monday, the preserve hosted a five kilometre walk and run event that brought in $2,288 and also marked the fox’s first public appearance.

Since arriving to the preserve, the fox has lived in a bird pen in the aviary building, and then moved onto a larger enclosure but one without public viewing access.

With the funds raised the fox will now receive a “quality enclosure,” said Jim Boyd, president of the Yukon Wildlife Preserve Operating Society.

“We are delighted and somewhat overwhelmed with the huge amount of community support this fundraising campaign has generated.”

The original goal of $10,000 was to cover the cost of building supplies.

“The long-term home we’re hoping (to build) will actually go beside our current Arctic fox enclosure. That will lend well to excellent interpretation value,” Lindsay Caskenette, the preserve’s visitor services administrator told the News earlier this week.

“If we can build a suitable enclosure for him - a suitable home for him - that could mean we could acquire another red fox, so he can have a friend.”

(Sam Riches)