Mystery beast spotted roaming UK streets is FINALLY caught in village after public was warned to stay away
A MYSTERY wild beast which had been spotted stalking UK streets has finally been caught.
Locals of Barry in Wales had been warned to stay away from the rare black fox, which had been on the run for two weeks.
Officials had been tracing the animal which they believe escaped from its owner after being privately kept as an exotic pet.
The black-coloured creature – known as a silver fox – was spotted by several shocked onlookers this month.
The RSPCA was limited in its capacity to assist and was ultimately unsuccessful in several attempts to capture the fox.
But experts at Black Foxes UK contacted the local authority’s animal warden and Sully-based Shua Trust Home and Sanctuary – and volunteers managed to capture the fox.
A spokesperson said: “The fox had been roaming Barry for just over two weeks and despite reports he had a leg injury, he appeared in good health. He was taken to Vets4Pets in Barry and named ‘Shadow’ by rescuers.”
He’s part of a line of ‘silver foxes’ brought to the UK from North America for the fur trade in the early 1900s. The North American red fox is a subspecies of the same type of red fox seen in Europe.
Black Foxes UK has found a secure place for Shadow to stay at Animals Interactive in Pontypool.
The animals are a sub-species of North American red foxes and have big bushy tails.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council asked anyone who sees the fox to get in touch with its animal warden team.
Neighbours in Barry called for the owner to take better control of the creature to stop it getting loose.
One said: “It’s probably sick to death of living in a cage as someone’s pet.”
Another added: “Why does it keep getting out. Must be unhappy in its environment.”
A third said: “The owner needs to sort it out – whoever you are!”
Hayley De Ronde, who runs website blackfoxes.co.uk says owning and breeding the creatures needs to be regulated.
She says all sighting should be reported – and urged witnesses not to approach the animals.
She said: “While some of these sightings will be of native wild foxes, some of the animals seen are that of escaped exotic pets in need of being located and returned home.”