
What Is The A.E.R.O. Mange Fox Rescue Program?
A.E.R.O.’s Mange Fox Rescue Program is authorized by the Virginia Department of Wildlife to help homeowners and landowners by treating foxes infested with mange so they can be returned back to their home habitat in better health. The program is an all volunteer effort that works with local veterinarians and provides traps, transport, medicines, surgical procedures and other services required. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, we provide all services free of charge, but donations are always appreciated and accepted Donate Now
Can the Mange Fox Program Help Me?
Both red foxes and grey foxes are eligible for the program, and you will need to submit a photo showing visible signs of mange infestation. (Include several photos) The program can only accept foxes caught on private property (not county, state, or federal land) that you own or control via a legal lease or rental agreement that gives you authority.
How Does the Mange Fox Program Work?
As a licensed wildlife rehabilitation organization, we cannot catch a mange-infested fox for you, but we can loan you a humane trap and provide you with instructions so you can catch it.
You will need to set the trap up in a suitable location and gradually lure the fox closer and closer to the trap using cat food or similar bait that you provide.
The trapping process will take no less than 5 days, but could take a week or month. In some cases, the fox can evade capture entirely. Because the fox must be transported and treated quickly after being caught, baiting and trapping must occur during daytime hours, and someone will need to be available to check the trap every two hours either in person or via a wireless security camera system such as a Ring cam.
If you capture an animal other than a fox, you will need to be willing and physically able to open the cage and release the animal quickly.
We will provide you with instructions and support along the way. Once the fox has been treated and is healthy enough, it will be returned for release on your property so it can return to its home territory.
Questions Before You Commit
As a state licensed organization, we are required to follow strict rules and guidelines. Anyone participating in the program must sign our agreement and indemnity waiver and read over our HOW-TO sheet.
If you can’t answer yes to all the following questions, participation in the Mange Fox Program is unlikely to be successful.
- Do you own or control the property where you’ve seen the fox?
- Does the fox appear regularly on your property during the day?
- Can you take a photo of the fox to share with us to ensure it has a mange infestation? (If you can’t take a photo with your camera or phone, we may be able to loan you a trail camera temporarily.)
- Are you available to drive to pick up a loaner cage from a A.E.R.O. volunteer and drop it off again if you are unable to capture the fox within the agreed upon time period?
- Are you able to set up the cage on your property in a secure location away from pets and children?
- Are you able to purchase and provide raw chicken scraps, canned cat food, or canned fish to bait the trap daily for as long as it takes to catch the fox?
- Will you or someone you trust be able to bait the humane trap cage no earlier than 6 each morning and close the cage again no later than 6 each night?
- Starting on Day 5 when the cage is set to capture, will you or a trustworthy person be available to check the cage every two hours to ensure the safety of any animal that is caught?
- If you catch a rabbit, raccoon, cat, or other animal in the cage, will you be able to release it quickly?
- Once the fox is caught, will you be able to notify us straight away so that we can safely transport it to a licensed rehabilitator or veterinarian for treatment?
So long as you can answer yes to all the questions above, please call 703-493-0554 or email mangeprogram@AEROanimalrescue.org if you are ready to proceed. Our volunteers will be available to schedule your humane trap pickup and walk you through any and all questions should you need help. But please remember, there is a time commitment required on your part!
Thank you for taking the time to inquire about helping the fox in your neighborhood and learning about what the A.E.R.O. Mange Fox Program can do to assist you.
Want to see more success stories made possible by people like you? Please read out Mange Fox Program Stories Blog.