Orphaned fox cubs rescued from portacabin after mum killed in crash

An animal welfare charity rescued six orphaned fox cubs after their mum was killed in a road crash.

The vulnerable cubs were just a week old when they were left to fend for themselves last weekend.

Scottish SPCA rescuers said the animals had become so hungry that one had blindly crawled out from under a portacabin and into a car park crying out for food.

Animal rescue officer, Ryan, said the cub was was “freezing cold, lethargic and weak” and his siblings could be heard crying out from their hidden den.

Ryan then spent two hours trying to save all six cubs from their den.

Cubs were left starving under portacabin. Scottish SPCA

A Scottish SPCA Facebook post said he had to use a torch and a wooden pole to painstakingly sweep mounds of rubbish, leaves and dirt out from under the cabin.

It added: “Every 20 minutes or so, another freezing cold cub would come out too.

“Just as he thought he had them all, he lay quietly listening for a couple of minutes and, sure enough, one last baby cried out from the very back.

“It took roughly another 40 minutes to free the last one but he managed to save all six.”

The cubs were taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre where staff said they will be hand reared and eventually released back in to the wild.

A spokesperson said: “Remember, not all fox cubs on their own need help. It’s common for their mother to leave them alone for long periods while she hunts.

“If you find a fox cub, monitor the animal from a distance for a few hours and if no parent returns, or if the cub is visibly sick or injured, call our helpline on 03000 999 999.”