Unusual Fox In Massachusetts Demands Something Totally Unexpected From His Caretakers
If you ever met Boots, you might think he’s just your average fox. His fur gleams a beautiful shade of copper, his eyes sparkle with curiosity, and his tail swishes proudly as he trots around.
But spend just a few minutes with him, and you’ll realize there’s something wonderfully different about this little guy.
Unlike most foxes who spend their days digging, hunting, and exploring the wild, Boots prefers belly rubs and company.
He’s less interested in chasing prey and more excited to hang out with his human friends at Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Massachusetts.
Basically, Boots isn’t your typical wild fox – he’s more of a cuddle enthusiast with paws.
His story began one rainy March day when a Reading, Massachusetts, animal control officer spotted a tiny fox curled up on the ground, soaked and trembling.
The little kit was just six weeks old, barely hanging on. The officer scooped him up and brought him to Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, where founder Jane Newhouse placed him in an incubator to warm him up.
The rescue shared in an interview:
“He used to do a lot of crying and whining for his mom.”
It was clear Boots missed her deeply. Jane also noticed something else – he wasn’t walking quite right.
A vet soon discovered an abscess on Boots’ head, which they quickly drained. After some rest and treatment, he seemed to bounce back. The rescue said:
“We figured he was good. Maybe it was just the abscess causing an infection that made him feel off.”
For a while, things looked promising. Boots joined four other young foxes at the rescue to learn normal fox behaviors.
He played, explored, and seemed to fit right in. But slowly, Jane began noticing something unusual.
Boots wasn’t connecting with the others anymore. Instead, he’d press up against the fence, watching the humans with wide, eager eyes. The rescue added:
“He was constantly trying to interact with us. But when we move them to outdoor enclosures, we really minimize contact because we don’t want them getting used to people.”
Then one day, Jane noticed his jaw starting to sag. That’s when a CT scan revealed the heartbreaking truth – Boots had neurological damage.
The vets believed he was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that caused fluid buildup in his brain. It explained his clumsy walking, his friendly obsession with people, and why his sense of smell never fully developed.
He wasn’t just friendly by choice – his brain was wired differently. And while that made him uniquely charming, it also meant he couldn’t survive on his own in the wild.
As difficult as it was to accept, Jane knew Boots’ story wasn’t ending there. When the other fox kits were released back into nature, Boots stayed behind. Jane shared:
“He’s in the enclosure by himself. He’s fully vaccinated. We know he can’t be released, so he’s just lonely.”
The rescue team decided that if Boots couldn’t live like a wild fox, they would make sure he lived a happy one.
They started spending time with him, giving him love and playtime. In a Facebook post, Newhouse Wildlife Rescue shared that out of the 80 foxes they’ve cared for, Boots was the first who couldn’t be released.
They reminded followers that he’s a rare exception – wild foxes should never be treated like pets – but for Boots, affection was now part of his care.
And he’s soaking up every bit of it. These days, when staff approach his enclosure, Boots bounces around with excitement, his tail wagging like a dog’s.
He rolls onto his back for belly rubs, chirps in delight, and follows his caretakers with pure joy in his eyes. Jane says he has a wonderful quality of life – he just needs a safe, permanent home.
As the cooler months approach, Jane is preparing for an influx of new rescues, which means Boots will soon need a new place to stay.
She’s waiting on approval from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and is searching for a sanctuary that can give him the long, peaceful life he deserves.
At the time, she didn’t yet know where Boots would go. But one thing she was sure of:
“I’m gonna miss him.”
For now, Boots continues to greet each day with warmth, playfulness, and a heart full of trust – a little fox who never quite fit the mold but found a way to shine anyway.
