An Alberta animal conservation organization has welcomed a rare-coloured fox kit into its care after it was orphaned due to a car accident. The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) said it is caring for a rare silver fox and two of its siblings. “Silver foxes are an uncommon dark-coloured morph of the red fox, making up only about 10 per cent of the species,” AIWC said in a news release. “The dark colour is the result of a genetic mutation and can occur even when both parents have the more typical red fox appearance.” The organization is currently caring for six orphaned kits in total. It notes red foxes in Alberta often prefer rural areas and they are particularly vulnerable to fast-moving traffic on highways. “While the reasons behind many orphaned cases remain unknown, one kit was confirmed to have lost both parents after they were struck by a vehicle,” the organization said. AIWC is asking the public to watch for wildlife while driving, particularly in rural areas.
