At-risk baby fox — an ‘opportunistic’ eater — wanders into home in Peru. See it
A baby fox of an at-risk species wandered into a home in northwestern Peru, prompting rescue efforts and a medical examination. Photos show the small and “opportunistic” animal.
The fox cub, identified as a Sechuran desert fox, appeared inside a house in Piura, Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service said in a May 6 news release. Wildlife officials were alerted to its unusual appearance and arrived to rescue the 2-month-old fox.
Max Guerra, a biologist with the department, said the Sechuran desert fox cub was generally in good health but covered in ticks and stressed by the situation.
Photos show the tiny fox while sitting, walking around and being held in a red cloth. It has prominent ears, and its fur is a mixture of black, light orange-ish brown and cream.
Sechuran desert foxes, also known as Lycalopex sechurae or Sechura foxes, are a “small” species of dog found along the western coast of South America, according to a 2010 study. Unlike other foxes, the species has “little or no reddish coloring on the body and face.” It is an “opportunistic” eater “with the capability of being a strict vegetarian when necessary.”
The species is commonly seen around Piura, Peru, but generally considered near threatened, wildlife officials said.
Officials captured the baby Sechuran desert fox and took it to a treatment center for health checks. They said it was being kept in quarantine and would hopefully be able to be released into the wild.
Piura is a city in northwestern Peru, near the border with Ecuador and a roughly 620-mile drive northwest from Lima.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from Peru’s National Forest and Wildlife Service.
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 8:41 AM with the headline "At-risk baby fox — an ‘opportunistic’ eater — wanders into home in Peru. See it."
