Saturday, December 29, 2012,
This is Copper, the resident fox at Sweetbriar Nature Center. He came to Sweetbriar as a young kit about four years ago. He’d been hit by a car and while the docs were examining him they discovered that besides his injuries, Copper had apparently been born with some birth defects. This little guy – all foxes are little – is blind in one eye and very nearly so in the other. He’s also missing one of his rear paws, although he gets around so well that it almost goes unnoticed.
Copper recovered from his injuries but his birth defects made him an unsuitable candidate for reintroduction to the wild. A blind fox cannot hunt. Or avoid cars for that matter. So instead, Copper spends his days in an enclosure built specifically for him. That’s not only great for Copper but it allows visitors at Sweetbriar to have a good look at these very secretive critters. These guys are as shy as they are beautiful. I’ve been playing in the woods for over 45 years and I could count up all of my fox sightings without even starting on my toes. Now I can visit with Copper anytime.
Copper can be seen every day at Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. Go check him out. Admission is free and there’s plenty more to see and do once you’re there. JK
Ah, and I see they have NAMED him. He actually has a NAME. See, I’m not the only one! 😉
It only took four years but, yes, Copper has a name. But get this: he’s named after the dog in the Disney classic, The Fox and the Hound. The fox was named Tod. JK
I THOUGHT something was amiss with his name! I couldn’t recall the name Tod and just shrugged and assumed Copper was right. Talk about irony!
On the other hand, Copper is a good name for a Red Fox. It’s pretty descriptive. JK
Yes, that’s why I caved and assumed that Copper must have been the fox’s name — and I couldn’t remember the hound’s name. Tricked me. 😉