On a sunny spring afternoon in South East England, a sharp-eyed passerby spotted a tiny ball of fluff darting through a neighborhood — but something was wrong.
The baby fox, barely old enough to be away from her den, was running in panic with her head tightly lodged inside a plastic food container.
Her breathing was labored, her vision blocked, and time was quickly running out.
“She got herself into a tricky situation,” wrote The Fox Project (TFP), the wildlife rescue team that came to her aid. “Her curiosity led her to poke her head into a plastic jar — and she couldn’t get back out.”
Desperate and disoriented, the young fox — soon affectionately nicknamed Jar Jar — was clearly struggling. Luckily, the Good Samaritan who found her called TFP before it was too late.
A Delicate Rescue
Volunteers rushed to the scene and managed to safely catch the frightened cub. But freeing her wouldn’t be easy. The container had created a seal, cutting off her air supply, and her body was already showing signs of distress.
Acting quickly, the rescue team cut a small hole in the jar to restore airflow, buying just enough time to rush her to their wildlife hospital for full treatment.
“The bottom of the jar was removed first so she could breathe,” TFP shared, “but the rim was still tightly stuck around her neck.”
At the center, veterinary staff carefully pried off the remaining plastic, then examined the exhausted cub. Thankfully, despite her terrifying ordeal, Jar Jar had no serious injuries.
“She was dehydrated, hungry, and covered in ticks,” said the team. “But thankfully, there were no wounds.”
A Second Chance at Life
Once cleaned up and given a proper meal, Jar Jar finally began to relax. The next morning, she was brighter, stronger, and ready to face the world again — this time, with the support of her human and fox family alike.
Soon after, Jar Jar was introduced to a group of four other rescued fox cubs. The team watched with joy as she immediately bonded with the others in their outdoor enclosure.
“Now she’s thriving, full of energy, and happily playing with her new friends,” TFP wrote in a joyful update.
You can see more pictures from her rescue here:
Preparing for Freedom
When the time is right, Jar Jar and her fellow cubs will be released together into a protected area, carefully selected to give them the best chance at a wild, free life. Until then, the team is giving them everything they need — and making sure they grow strong and confident.
While TFP was honored to help Jar Jar, they hope stories like hers serve as a powerful reminder: wildlife and plastic waste don’t mix. The consequences can be deadly.
If you’d like to support foxes like Jar Jar, consider donating to The Fox Project here, or help spread awareness about plastic pollution and its dangers to local wildlife by sharing this article.
