--- title: "Wildlife Center Employee Dresses as Big Fox to Care for Baby Foxes" description: "Employees at a wildlife center are wearing a fox mask to help feed a baby fox — and folks are pointing out that it looks like a fursuit." date: "2024-03-15" modified: "2024-03-15" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/wildlife-center-baby-fox" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "animals" - "furries" - "the digest" - "wildlife" --- # Wildlife Center Employee Dresses as Big Fox to Care for Baby Foxes ![Employees at a wildlife center are wearing a fox mask to help feed a baby fox — and folks are pointing out that it looks like a fursuit.]() *\Image: WTVR CBS 6 via YouTube / Futurism\* ## Strong Resemblance Employees at a wildlife center in Richmond have taken to wearing a supersized fox mask to help feed a baby fox — and folks online are pointing out that it looks a lot like, well, a [fursuit](). The story started off extremely wholesome: employees began wearing the fursuit-looking full-head mask, as a Richmond Wildlife Center [Facebook post explains](), in an attempt to head off any imprinting for the baby. "It's important to make sure that the orphans that are raised in captivity do not become imprinted upon or habituated to humans," the post reads. "To prevent that, we minimize human sounds, create visual barriers, reduce handling, reduce multiple transfers amongst different facilities, and wear masks for the species." https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1767723011979739230 While it's indeed a sweet effort, the fact remains that lots of people have noticed that the fox mask in question bears an extremely strong resemblance to those worn by people whose "fursonas," or identification with animals — which [isn't necessarily sexual]() — are foxes. "Cute story," [one user]() on X-formerly-Twitter posted, "but that is 100% a fursuit lol." ## Dress for Work As others pointed out, news reports about the curious costuming note that the mask was sourced by the Richmond Wildlife Center's executive director — though some quipped that she may also use it "[for something else]()." Naturally, the furry community online has also taken to the reporting, and are [jokingly]() [celebrating]() the executive director as [one of their own](). "Who decided to wear their fursuit head to work," [another user questioned](). "We need the full story here!" Some in the furry fandom community even began offering the wildlife center tips on how to up their game. "Maybe a better fox mask would be in order," [one furry said]() in response to a news clip posted on X. "There are plenty of people who make them for a living that could get super realistic with them." While the fox head mask in question does indeed resemble those worn by furries, the similarities don't end there. It also, as one user pointed out, looks a lot like the characters from Wes Anderson's "[Fantastic Mr. Fox]()." Intentional or not, this clip and the fox-headed humans behind it have captured some internet attention — which will hopefully lead to more funds raised for the wildlife center in question. **More on animals:** [*Amateur Scientist Teaches Rats to Take Selfies*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()