Wildlife officials confiscate pet fox in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Parks and Wildlife confiscated a wild fox from a Colorado Springs resident. It is illegal to own wild animals in Colorado and is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine.

Officials said they found the woman through her Instagram page, which dates back to May 2018 when the animal was a small kit. She posted dozens of photos and videos of the fox. CPW said some of the images showed the fox in a collar and eating human food.

The agency is now reminding people to keep wildlife wild. According to a press release, officials had to euthanize the fox because it had been in captivity for two years. Wildlife officers determined it would not be able to survive if released back into the wild.

"People cannot take care of wildlife better than their parents," Frank McGee, Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region, said. "It is selfish and irresponsible to take these animals from the wild.”

McGee reminds people that if you see a baby wildlife animal that looks orphaned or abandoned, leave it alone and do not touch it. Instead, call wildlife officials so they can assess the situation.

This was so unnecessary and sad for the fox and our officers,” McGee said. “People often think they are helping when they pick up wildlife. They are not. These are wild animals. They are not meant to live in captivity.”