Jamie the Red Fox

Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium is committed to the highest standard of care for our resident animals, many of whom have come to us from challenging circumstances. One such resident is Jamie, a red fox who arrived at the park in 2017 after being rescued from the pet trade.

Before coming to Bays Mountain, Jamie had been passed between owners and ultimately taken into custody by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Upon arrival, our animal care team noticed Jamie exhibited an abnormal gait. Over the following months, he occasionally displayed lameness in different limbs. Veterinary examinations revealed he had previously suffered at least one bone fracture, along with possible other untreated injuries. Unfortunately, Jamie had no medical records, and there was no evidence that he had received proper veterinary care before his rescue. Despite this, under the care of our team, Jamie adapted well to his new environment.

In 2022, Jamie was discovered in his habitat with a fresh leg fracture. Our team acted quickly, transporting him to an emergency veterinary clinic. Veterinarians stabilized the leg with a splint, followed by surgery to place pins in the bone. Unfortunately, the damage was too severe, and the pins could not hold the bone together. After careful consideration, our veterinarian, in collaboration with Bays Mountain staff, made the difficult but necessary decision to amputate the limb to preserve Jamie’s quality of life.

Following surgery, Jamie was transferred to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with experience in caring for tripod foxes. Through dedicated rehabilitation efforts, Jamie has made a remarkable recovery and continues to thrive. Today, he moves confidently and seems entirely unbothered by the loss of his limb.

While it is impossible to determine with certainty whether Jamie’s past injuries contributed to his 2022 fracture, it remains a possibility. His story serves as a sobering reminder of the cruelty and irresponsibility of the exotic pet trade. Wild animals are not meant to be kept as pets, and we encourage the public to support ethical adoption practices by choosing domesticated animals like cats and dogs from local shelters. Wild animals belong in wild places.

Bays Mountain Park remains dedicated to providing a safe, enriching, and compassionate home for non-releasable and captive born animals while educating the public on the importance of conservation and responsible stewardship of nature.