Kimberly DeFisher

The screms, the 💩 from the air - she’s the weirdest fox to exist. Love her. #wildlife #rescue #fox #chaos #funny #behavior #whatdoesthefoxsay #animals #nonprofit #fyp

Intake 2025-03, “Peanut”. The look of thanks and understanding he gave me was everything.✨ #wildlife #rescue #wildliferehab #fox #animals #nonprofit

🐺 Whenever anyone other than myself enters the Wolfdog yard - as I’m the only one who’s in with the pack on a daily basis - I’m extremely observant and cautious. Contrary to what some commenters have stated in the past, our Wolfdogs aren’t maneaters who are in a constant state of sizing humans up as prey. 😆 However, they are large canines who demand respect (like any large breed dog, really), they’ve each experienced some level of trauma, pack mentality is a real thing, and some of them have extremely strong temperments and like to push their limits to see how far they can test or assert dominance over people (I don’t want to point any fingers, but, ahem…DAKOTA). Thus, I stay aware and take precautions when needed. Firstly, there are a very limited number of people who can legally enter the yard - per my state license’s regulations. Secondly, whether or not I lock some of the Wolfdogs up depends on 1) if someone has mastered how to act around Dakota to be respected and 2) what we’re doing in there. Even if someone has earned Dakota’s respect, Dakota still gets very suspicious of unusual - especially LOUD and unusual - activity. And when pack leader feels uneasy towards someone, the others get uneasy. Dakota’s suspicion paired with his comfortability around humans could create a potential problem. Unlike our high-content Wolfdogs who are very “wolfy” acting (prefer to avoid conflict) and not confident around humans, mid-content Dakota has those confident, confrontational doggy-like qualities. His go-to move is to quietly come up from behind and give a tiny nip or pull on jeans or a coat with his front teeth. Although it’s kind of adorable and funny, I can also tell by his body language that it means he’s not totally comfortable, which means the situation COULD escalate. For this reason, during times like in this video, I usually lock Dakota up. Now, why is Doji locked up? Well, simply put, Doji just ran in there when I locked Dakota up. 😂 🎥 Our spurt of subzero temps caused the ground to heave by our Wolfdog Yard entrance, which ultimately led to a couple revision projects on the door. (The joys of having outdoor animals in this climate 😅) #wildlife #rescue #wolfdog #wolf #suspicious #winter #behavior #animals

They get a meal that includes fresh, raw meat daily, which, honestly, could technically be “enough” for them, but my protocol at my sanctuary is to also allow the foxes to free-feed on kibble as they please. The use of kibble in a canine’s diet is a controversial subject in the animal community, and each side of the argument has valid points. Here, we - and our vets - are pro-kibble. Aside from the added dental and nutritional benefits, keeping a high-quality kibble accessible makes it so our animals are never starving before mealtime (because animals can get #hangry too). Some foxes clearly enjoy the kibble portion of their diet more than others. Daisy here is a PRIME example. I never even have to walk into their enclosure to check the status of their feeder - she immediately lets me know if the snack drawer needs a refill. 😂 Though most of them only choose to eat a full meal’s worth during supper time, having the ability to snack throughout the day is super helpful in eliminating potential food aggression. It’s an issue that’s almost nonexistent here (I say “almost”, because realistically, things could always happen). I’ve actually advised other fox rescues and owners of trying this method if they ever experience intense food aggression and resource guarding amongst their foxes. I GREATLY appreciate all the support you guys give us, because it’s the only way we’re able to afford feeding all our residents. You may imagine that including kibble in our residents’ diets would save us money, but it’s actually the opposite: We spend WELL over $10,000 on kibble alone annually. Kibble is actually more expensive than raw (based on our current cost of meat). So when you hop on Venmo and send our nonprofit $5, trust me, it’s appreciated - don’t ever feel like your contribution is too small! This has been my protocol since I started rescuing foxes, and aside from the occasional senior animal who puts on an expected extra few pounds, our canines maintain excellent body conditions. They’re amazing at self-regulating how much to eat! 🦊

Replying to @Dennari 🐺 This did NOT disappoint.

“Clifford the big red fox” is a phrase I say in my head all the time now 🥹 #wildlife #rescue #wildliferehab #fox #babyanimals #nonprofit

Who knew exercise & enrichment could be THIS cute? 🥹🦝 #wildlife #rescue #raccoon #adorable #animals

Wildlife rehab isn’t always fun, but I wipe my tears, and then I keep going. There’s always another soul who I might be able to help. Mangy foxes especially need so much assistance - they almost always have deeper, underlying issues going on. There’s almost always something far more complex that needs to be addressed than the mange mites themselves. There’s almost always a REASON they were able to come down with a mite infestation/parasite overload to begin with. After seeing more and more cases like Ford’s, I’ve been changing my mange protocol the last year to really trying to intake as many patients as possible for treatment (as opposed to just treating the parasites in the field). Ford hadn’t even received any parasiticides yet - there’s no way his body would’ve been able to handle them yet (meaning had he been treated on-site in a feeding station, receiving those meds absolutely would’ve put him over the edge, and it would’ve been a cold, uncomfortable passing). But even with essential, delicate supportive care, his body was still ready to be done fighting. Ford had such a kind temperament, I could immediately tell. Sweet dreams, handsome boy.🪽

Wolves further prove that communication is key to healthy relationships 😉. #wolfdog #wildlife #rescue #animals

How most families spend quality time together, right? 🦊 #wildlife #rescue #sanctuary #nonprofit #chicken #animals #fox #wolf

& this is how we discovered a tree had fallen on the goats’ fence 😂

Replying to @Andrew Erik Whitley This could be groundbreaking - I need your help. #wildlife #rescue #wildliferehab #fox #baby #animals #discovery #nonprofit

This feels like the first “real winter” we’ve had in a while. And when I say that, I mean weeks straight of snow (that sticks around) and below-freezing temperatures. Winter is such a gorgeous season when it’s paired with sparkling snow. I’m actually one of those people who’s always really enjoyed winter, and the season usually gives me a fresh burst of energy. However… it also makes chores way tougher, and because of that, my love for winter has been a little skewed since my rescue efforts have grown. 😅 I found myself in a very grumpy mood earlier this week when I had to shovel through ice to get into every single fox enclosure. Not only was it super physically exhausting, but I also got hit with a stomach bug this week, so I’ve been feeling wiped out to begin with. ^ I’m hoping that knowing those details helps you fully envision why this scene with Porsha was EXTRA adorable and much-needed in the moment: So here I am, in the middle of hating winter and wishing it away, and then I stumble upon this adorable, snow-covered pile of fluff that is Porsha. Although she was obviously in a mood, she was also clearly so happy to be curled up in the snow. She could’ve chosen to sleep in one of their houses instead, but judging by the slightly-melted circle around her paired with the snow atop her, she was content where she was. 😌 So while I’m over here doing my routine self-questioning of “why the heck did I choose to rescue outdoor animals while living in Western New York”, the foxes are over here absolutely LOVING the chilly weather. And that’s enough to make me pause, smile, and stop questioning my sanity. It’s all about those little moments. 🥰 But also, hear me out… I am SO READY for the ground to thaw so we can continue working on the Fox Barn’s construction. Because man oh man, the thought of not dealing with iced-in enclosure doors sounds heavenly. 😆

I know I’m not supposed to have favorites, but Pearl has always been up there in ranking, if I’m being honest. At the time, this decision was so hard for me. I knew the recovery could potentially be really hard for Pearl at her senior age - IF she made it through surgery - and there were many other pros and cons to weigh. I had tears flowing in my vet’s office while I was mulling over the call. And, I decided to trust my gut: My gut said that it wasn’t time to give up on Pearl. And she sure showed me I was right - she was hopping around on three legs by the night of the surgery! 🙏🏼 I’m overjoyed that Pearl’s lived to her teens already, and I hope I get to spend even more years with this resilient girl. 🥰 #wildlife #rescue #fox #sanctuary #animals

“no screaming on my head” -an important rule to live by 🦊

Aside from being adorable, there’s a reason raccoons dunk things in water: Their paws are sensitive and dexterous, and wetting an object in water - followed by rolling the object around those soft paw pads - enhances the sensory information they can get out of an object. This could be for pure, enriching fun (like you see in this video), but also, this helps them learn more about and more easily recognize different items. Think of it like their paws are almost their second source of vision - which must also be super helpful with them usually being most active during the dark! 🥰

#wildliferehab

Trust is everything. At larger facilities, like zoos with staff and volunteers, it’s common to see one specific keeper assigned to medicating an animal. That’s because consistency, trust, and training are crucial when it comes to administering meds. We’re not a big facility - we’re a home-based, family-run sanctuary. That means my family gets roped into chores! My kids are definitely animal lovers, and they’re incredibly empathetic. Still, because of the species I work with, I don’t allow them to be as hands-on as some might imagine. Their safety is always my top priority. As they grow, so do the responsibilities I allow them to take on. Usually, when they help with chores, it’s not actually super helpful if I’m being honest - it’s more about humoring them and fostering their love for animals. But this chore? This one is different. Ella helping to get medication into a wolfdog who won’t usually come near me - because, sadly, he associates me with the trauma, travel, and vetting from the beginning of his life - is actually helpful. Very much so. Trying to medicate him alone usually involves a slightly chaotic mess of treat-flinging in opposite directions to distract other wolfdogs. 😅 So to watch Ella calmly and confidently step in, to see the subtle things she does that show me just how much she’s learned and been watching me - it makes me incredibly proud. (Gosh, this would’ve made a good #mothersday post - I should’ve saved this for next month. I was too excited to post it though 😂❤️) #wildlife #rescue #wolfdog #wolf #motherdaughter #kidsoftiktok #animals #proud #nonprofit

Introducing intake 2025–05, and also an update on Peanut: This is Sunshine - lovingly named by my 6 y/o son, Clay, who asked me with wide eyes, “Can I please name the baby fox Sunshine?” I couldn’t say no, and honestly, we could use a little extra light right now. As you can probably tell, something isn’t right. Sunshine has an abnormally large, dome-shaped head - the kind I refer to as a “textbook case of hydrocephalus”. And while Sunshine’s condition is serious, I’m also here to share a hopeful development for Peanut, my #wildliferehab Intake 2025–03. When Peanut came in, I suspected hydrocephalus - though his skull isn’t shaped like a typical case. His neurological symptoms and intake story matched past cases I’ve seen, but I also know it could be a number of different conditions causing those signs - from structural abnormalities to infections and pressure on the brain. That’s exactly what I’ve been hoping to explore through further testing. For quite a while now, I’ve been searching for a specialist veterinarian who would be open to digging deeper into the possible causes, testing, and potential treatment options for neurological conditions like hydrocephalus. It’s hard to put into words how excited I feel about this huge step - even though I’m equally heartbroken and anxious about both Peanut and Sunshine’s conditions… For the first time, we might have the opportunity to do advanced diagnostics - especially imaging like an MRI - which has never been an option before. Even if we can’t save both of these foxes, which I’m praying we can, this could still give us incredibly valuable information for future cases. I’m writing this from a rest stop, mid-travel to meet with a veterinary neurosurgeon who has generously agreed to evaluate both Peanut and Sunshine. It’s several hours away, and I may be staying overnight. That may mean a spontaneous fundraiser to help cover costs. (While our Fox Barn fundraiser is ongoing, construction is paused until weather allows us to pour concrete.) I’ll keep you posted after the appointment - and at that time, I’ll also share what we learn & how much we may need to fundraise if advanced diagnostics are recommended. 🙏🏼 (PS I actually wrote this at about noon today and it’s now 8PM - trying to draft up a post-appointment update as we speak but needed to get this posted ❤️) #wildlife #rescue #wildliferehab #fox #animals #nonprofit

Intake 2025-04: The start of a brotherly bond. ❤️ #wildliferehab #wildlife #rescue #fox #animals #nonprofit