Tar fox rescued in London returns to the wild after months of care
A fox covered in bitumen and stuck fast to a road in north-east London has been released back into the wild after more than three months of treatment.
The cub was found in May on an industrial estate after falling into a container of bitumen, a material derived from crude oil and commonly used in road surfacing. Workers discovered the animal with its legs glued to the tarmac. Rescuers from South Essex Wildlife Hospital spent more than half an hour freeing each limb, one of which later required surgery.
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During his recovery, staff began referring to the animal as “Tar Fox”, a nickname that stuck as they shared updates on social media. The hospital described his plight at the time as “one of the most horrific cases” in its 35-plus years of rescue work.
Cleaning the cub’s fur required repeated washes with baby oil and WD-40 over several days. After three months and 17 days of rehabilitation, including complex surgery and physiotherapy, he was finally strong enough to return to the wild.
Announcing his release, staff wrote:
“His final leap to freedom makes every single second worth it. Tar Fox is finally free. The end of an era… good luck little fox – keep out of trouble.” They thanked supporters who had donated and shared his story, calling his recovery “amazing”.
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