A couple from Derbyshire posted a video of a fox that visited their garden and eventually got used to walking on two legs.
The fox was often shy and avoided human contact, but this one stayed in the garden for around 45 minutes.
Foxes are common visitors to Phil and Jane Carter’s home, but this was the first time they had ever seen one like this.
Phil and Jane Carter, an elderly couple from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, were shocked to see a two-legged fox in their backyard. Phil is 71 years old and Jane is 72 years old.
The fox wandered into Philip and Jane Carter’s Ilkeston house hunting for food. They were both there when they saw the animal with the bushy tail in their yard.
The animal, which was missing its hind legs, walked about the yard sniffing and scooping up the meat before taking off like a rocket.
The fox can be seen in the video clip walking about while balancing on its hind legs and holding its tail in the air. Phil observed that the creature appeared to rely on its tail for stability.
The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust speculated that the fox had learned to walk upright.
Businessman Philip Carter told Derbyshire Live, “My wife shouted to me to come to the window quick because I would not believe what I am about to see.”
Jane urged him to swiftly grab his phone to record the strange creature.
The fox lingered for around half an hour. When we tried to feed it, it fled away, but later it came back for more, as Phil said.
The fox ran up and over to the gate at one point. It has to be seen to be believed. It is amazing.
Mr. Carter stated that the unusual critter first showed up in their garden on December 17 at around 3 p.m., right after they had completed setting up their Christmas tree.
He continued by saying that they occasionally spot foxes in the vicinity, but never anything like that before.
Mrs. Carter has even been known to play with the fox cubs that visit the Carters’ garden every spring.
The thought never even crossed my head. The fox’s vertical tail, forward head posture, and abrupt departure were a peculiar sight. Also, he disappeared when he fled. “I’ve never seen anything happen so quickly,” Phil exclaimed.
He also mentioned that he has a good idea of where it lives but prefers not to go there.
Phil added that he and his wife had recently returned from a trip and that he had not seen the fox since it first appeared in mid-December.
Not only did Phil and Jane feel stunned, but so did everyone else. The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said they had never heard of anything like it occurring naturally.
Thankfully, the fox appears to be in good health and has adapted well to its new lifestyle on two feet.
