A wildlife care center has reported that one of its most dreadful incidents involved a fox cub that became ensnared in a container of bitumen and subsequently adhered to a roadway.

On Thursday, South Essex Wildlife Hospital received a call regarding the fox, which was found smeared with black substance in an industrial area of north-east London.

After hearing distressing sounds, workers were able to pinpoint the source and rescue the three-month-old cub from the container, only to discover it was then stuck to the pavement.

The hospital expressed hopes that they could liberate the young animal this week, allowing it the opportunity to reunite with its mother, who had been observed attempting to rescue her cub.

Bitumen, primarily derived from crude oil, is typically utilized as a binder in road construction, and the hospital described this incident as “one of the most horrific cases we’ve encountered in over 35 years of wildlife rehabilitation.”

Lawrie Brailey, the operations manager at the hospital, mentioned that the team arrived at the scene near Lea Bridge and Hackney Marshes around 19:00 BST.

While waiting for the professionals, workers researched online and began using baby oil in an attempt to free the fox.

It took over 30 minutes for a rescuer and a veterinarian to separate the cub’s limbs from the pavement before it could be safely transported.

Baby oil along with WD-40 was employed to break down and loosen the tar-like material. However, due to severe matting, some of the cub’s fur needed to be trimmed.

Mr. Brailey noted, “There is minor staining to the fur… [but] he now resembles a fox, albeit with a few patches missing.”

The cub was under observation for potential toxicity concerns.

“He appears to be doing well now and is eating, urinating, and defecating,” Mr. Brailey reported.

Although the fox is mobile, it has sustained some injury to one of its legs, and the team plans to begin treatment on it this week.

The cleaning process utilized over 30 bottles of baby oil, and the hospital manager expressed relief at being able to assist the distressed animal.

“We frequently encounter injuries and fatalities… When faced with a situation like this and you see the animal, you’re left contemplating your options, and unfortunately, there’s limited guidance available; it often involves trial and error,” he stated.

During the incident, Mr. Brailey remarked that the cub’s mother had attempted to “scruff him” and “lift him off the center of the parking lot.”

The hospital is uncertain whether the cub will be able to be reunited with its mother, as this would need to happen within a week to avoid the risk of rejection.

If a reunion is not feasible, the cub will spend time with other infants under their care in Essex and will be released once it is prepared.