Brookfield Resident Rescues Sick Red Fox

BROOKFIELD, WI—A red fox with mange is now safe after a Brookfield resident captured the animal.

Eva Kryzanek described herself to Patch as a wildlife watcher. She said she loves sitting in her sunroom at admiring the chipmunks, squirrels, and other furry creatures. She works out of her house so she can take in the scenery.

A neighbor, who has since died, was a wildlife enthusiast and many creatures would mate and give birth in that area, Kryzanek said.

Over the winter, Kryzanek spotted a beautiful red fox eating.

"It was the most precious thing," she said.

One day she took her dog for a walk along a trail by her yard and noticed thrown up carrots and potatoes. She suspected it was from the fox.

The Brookfield resident took to social media and there was a thread of conversation about red foxes in the area. She told Patch she befriended a Menomonee Falls woman from social media who caught a fox.

The woman, who had worked as a vet and has rescued wildlife before, offered tips for Kryzanek such as getting a live trap from the Elmbrook Humane Society.

"She (her friend) told me to put really smelly and stinky food on the cage," Kryzanek said.

The animal lover said after the friend caught the first of three foxes, she felt another one was nearby her home.

"I knew I had to save this little guy," Kryzanek said.

She was instructed to make a den for the fox and cover the trap with branches.

It took Kryzanek three days to capture the fox. On the third morning, she noticed the trap door was closed.

"Sure enough there he was curled up. It breaks my heart as an animal lover," Kryzanek said.

The anticipation leading up to the capture caused her to have anxiety. She told Patch that she used her Catholic faith to help ease her worries.

"My heart was pounding and I just wanted to get him to safety," Kryzanek said.

After calling the Elmbrook Humane Society, the fox was picked up within 10 minutes. Kryzanek hopes to get an update on how the fox is doing.

Elmbrook Human Society posted pictures of the animal along with a note of thanks.

"We were so honored to work with the Good Samaritan who captured him and Wildlife In Need Center to help this fox have a fighting chance," Elmbrook Humane Society said in a post.