Mystery beast spotted roaming UK streets – but public urged to stay away and call RSPCA
A MYSTERY beast has been spotted roaming UK streets – but the public are being urged to stay away and call the RSPCA if they see it.
Residents in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales saw the beast yesterday morning after it escaped from its owner.
The animal is a rare black fox – and experts claim it could be an exotic pet.
Black foxes, which are not native to the UK, originate from North America – where one in ten foxes are black.
The fox is thought to be tame and could even approach people, with one local claiming he saw it outside Home Bargains.
Members of the public have been urged not to chase the fox, which is likely to be “quite stressed”.
The local animal warden is working with Black Foxes UK and a cat rescue centre to apprehend the fox humanely.
Resident Lorraine Moores told the BBC: “I came outside with the dog, and this fox was sat there between my cabin and the caravan next door.
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“I presumed it had been there all night.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “Black foxes are the same species as the red foxes we have living wild in the UK but with different colouration.
“Traditionally, they were bred for their fur but are now sometimes kept as exotic pets.
“Foxes are wild animals with very specific needs that are no different to those of foxes living in the wild and they require specialist care.
“Exotic pets can live a long time, grow to a large size and need to be taken to an exotics vet if they become ill, which can be expensive.”
Another black fox was seen in the area in 2021 – before it was eventually caught in a snare and had its leg amputated.
Some fox fans only breed black litters, even though the RSPCA advises against keeping or breeding black foxes.
It comes after a mystery “tree beast” which sparked terror in Poland turned out to be a croissant.