Old Port fox still at large

For a 4th day in a row, the fox rescue operation in the Old Port of Montreal remains unsuccessful.

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However, the researchers discovered what could be a den where the animal takes refuge.

This find means that the rescue team must change its strategy, especially since the ground is unstable, there are concrete blocks, iron bars and electric wires at the place where find the hole.

“My responsibility at the moment is to monitor the exits where the fox normally exits, then to notify my team once the fox has left its den,” explains a woman who participates in the operation.

Once the animal comes out, Éric Dussault’s team will close the access to the burrow. The fox will therefore no longer have a place to hide.

“We are going to capture the animal in the most humanitarian way possible and the least stressful possible,” says Mr. Dussault.

However, according to David Rodrigues, of the Zoo Écomuséum, the best solution would be to leave the animal alone and avoid running after it with nets.

“What I saw anyway, he didn’t look distressed or anything,” he said.

“There is no danger for people compared to the fox. The danger linked to the animal is if there are people who decide to “save it”, “he adds.

To end up there, the animal would have left the Dieppe park, more or less 400 meters from the port. He took advantage of the fact that the river was frozen and he would have had his den there for over a month.

The Animal Rescue team plans to capture him within the next few days.