Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 10
'I LOVE IT WHEN THEY HATE ME'
Where the
F
Things Are
For Fox Sake rehab center takes in skunks, raccoons and other risky and at-risk critters.
BY NANCY HENDERSON I PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUNIPER RUSSO
or Juniper Russo, the best success stories involve
the wild animals that won't let her come
anywhere near them. Take, for example, her
favorite " patient, " a gray fox named Laurel.
" She was the meanest animal I've seen in my entire
life, " says Russo, founder and executive director
of For Fox Sake Wildlife Rescue in Chattanooga.
" There's always a risk when an animal comes in that
doesn't have littermates that
it's going to become
tame. But she hated me so much, it was honestly hilarious.
Every single time I even walked past her pen,
I would hear this growling and snarling and then,
later, screaming if I didn't go away fast enough.
" I was so proud of her for that because it's easy for
them to habituate with humans and then they can't
make it on their own. I love it when they hate me. "
Laurel was later released into the wild.
Certified by the International Wildlife Rehabilitation
Council and set up in Russo's backyard in 2018,
the nonprofit facility is the realization of a lifelong
goal. " As a kid, I had all these dreams of growing up
and being like Steve Irwin, " she says, noting that she
originally intended to care for a few rabies-vector
species but quickly discovered a greater need. " They
were very underserved as a group. We already had
people doing squirrels, opossums and songbirds. ...
Somebody needed to do it, and if it wasn't me, then
these animals would be put to sleep. "
She still primarily cares for skunks, raccoons and,
of course, foxes, but has since added bats, turtles and
snakes, even mink and bobcats, and now rehabs about
50 animals at a time during peak summer season. In
winter, when they're not as active, that number dwindles
to about 10 because they're less likely to be hit by
cars, orphaned or caught in traps. Area residents drop
off injured patients, as do officers from the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency and keepers at the Chattanooga
Zoo. Each enclosure provides water, toys, hiding
spots, climbing surfaces and other places to rest
and exercise.
10 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Wild
https://forfoxsakewildlife.com/
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 3
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 4
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 5
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 6
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 7
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 8
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 9
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 10
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 11
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 12
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 13
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 14
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 15
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 16
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 17
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 18
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 19
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 20
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 21
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 22
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 23
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 24
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 25
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 26
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 27
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 28
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 29
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 30
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 31
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 32
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 33
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 34
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 35
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 36
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 37
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 38
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 39
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 40
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 41
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 42
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 43
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 44
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 45
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 46
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 47
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 48
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 49
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 50
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 51
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 52
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 53
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 54
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 55
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 56
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 57
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 58
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 59
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 60
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 61
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 62
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 63
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 64
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 65
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - 66
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country Nov/Dec 2024 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/brc-jf-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com