Our amazing animal care team did incredible work to get our two fox residents, Finneas and Alfalfa, familiar with one another from a distance. Introductions were slow and well thought out, providing the most amount of comfort and least amount of stress.
When we first learned of Alfalfa’s need for a forever home, we had high hopes that he and Finneas could live together. It was clear from the first day Alfalfa arrived, they were both interested in each other. The animal care staff started noticing a trend after the first couple of nights. The two boys would stash their toys on the side of their habitats nearest the other. It was as if they wanted to share and show off what they each had.
While Alfalfa settled in and learned his new space and routine, the animal care team drafted their introduction plan. The two habitats were connected to a ‘shareable’ space where they could be allowed to go and get a closer look at each other. It was decided that Finn would be the first one to have access to the space since he had previously had access before Alfalfa arrived. Mesh was put up on the shared wall for safety and Finn was let in.
It only took moments for Finn to find his way into the new space and Alfalfa to realize how close he could now get to his new friend. At first, there was plenty of sniffing and posturing, with each standing on their hind legs to get a better look. But, as time went on, they both began to run along the fence often rolling on their backs and playfully biting the grass. As Finn is typically reserved with the animal care staff around, it was fun to see him play and react to Alfalfa.
As the night went on, the boys ramped up their playing and running alongside the shared wall. They were mostly just blurs on the camera from zooming around so fast. It was clear they both wanted to truly meet each other so it was decided the introduction would happen the following day. The animal care team gathered the safety supplies and opened the door for Alfalfa to join Finn.
Alfalfa is quite a bit more curious than Finn, especially when people are around, so it was Alfalfa who first explored Finn’s area. At first, there was minimal interaction as Alfalfa was busy with all the sights and smells, but they soon found each other and started sniffing and following one another around. Next, it was Finn’s turn to check out Alfalfa’s space. After Alfalfa showed off his digs, the wrestling and playing began.
We are happy to report that the two boys are doing great with one another. A special thank you to the animal care team who took great care to ensure the safety of both boys and for understanding their individual needs.
We have cleared the 8500 sq ft area for their permanent habitat. We would love to see them in their forever space as soon as possible. Please consider making a donation today to make that happen.