Foxes are famed for their cunning and stealth. But one wily fox has left US port officers baffled after completing a 3,400-mile trip from Southampton to New York.
The cunning stowaway evaded detection as it boarded a cargo ship to make the transatlantic journey to the US East Coast.
It is now being cared for at Bronx Zoo, whose staff said the animal was healthy after initial examinations. A longer-term home will be found once it undergoes additional health checks.
The red fox was found alive and well on the ship transporting cars when it docked at the Port of New York and New Jersey on February 18.
It is not clear how it got aboard the vessel, which set off two weeks earlier on Feb 4.
The animal was safely secured by United States Customs and Border Protection and brought to the zoo on Feb 19.
Keith Lovett, the zoo’s director of animal programmes, said: “He seems to be settling in well. It’s gone through a lot.”
The animal is estimated to be around two years old and weighs 11lb (5kg).
It is currently in the zoo’s animal health center under the care of the animal and veterinary teams and initial examinations indicate its health is in good condition, the zoo said in a statement.
It is currently in the zoo’s animal health center under the care of the animal and veterinary teams and initial examinations indicate its health is in good condition, the zoo said in a statement.
A spokesman for Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton said despite handling everything from cars to containers and cruises, even its officials were “surprised” to find a fox on board.
“Clearly it fancied swapping the Solent for the Staten Island Ferry,” the spokesman added.
“Though next time we’d recommend it considers the Queen Mary 2, which offers the Southampton to New York route with considerably more comfort.”
Red foxes are among the most widespread carnivorous mammals in the world and can be found across Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of Africa.
The animals are known for their adaptability, allowing them to thrive in environments ranging from forests and grasslands to urban areas.
They have been known to make long journeys, and have also been recorded boarding trains in the UK.
Last year, a fox was discovered running around the carriage of a late-night train from Southend Central station toward Fenchurch Street.
Passengers said the fox was jumping on seats and scratching at windows. One passenger who filmed the fox travelling on the train said she had “no idea how it got on”.
A similar incident happened in 2012 when a young fox boarded a Tube train. Passengers took photos of the animal sitting calmly in the carriage and jumping on to seats.