THE RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre is caring for ten orphaned and abandoned fox cubs.

All of them have arrived at the centre recently after being rescued by charity staff.

Animal care teams at the specialist wildlife rehabilitation centre have been working round the clock to ensure the young foxes have everything they need to get ready to be released back into the wild when they are old enough.

The cubs have come to the centre from across the West Country after being found by concerned members of the public who have called for help after monitoring the young mammals.

Two of the cubs were discovered alongside the body of their mother in North Devon after she’d been hit by a vehicle.

Inspector Jo Daniel helped a lone fox cub found in Plymouth, while Inspector Ken Snook offered a lifeline for a cub discovered alone in a barn for more than 24 hours in Dorset.

Adam Grogan, head of wildlife at the RSPCA said: “Our advice is that if you see a lone baby wild animal, unless they are obviously injured or in immediate danger from predators or traffic, monitor the situation from afar as they may not need rescuing.

"Young animals have a much greater chance of survival if they remain with their mothers.

“Where possible we will always try to reunite them and we always ask members of the public to leave the cubs in situ where possible and call for advice.

"That way our staff can assess the situation to see if we can reunite them.

“If you find a fox cub on their own and their eyes are open, the cub is probably fine – the parents will usually be nearby.

"Leave a supply of dog food and water nearby and check again after 24 hours.

"If the cub is in immediate danger – on a road or somewhere very exposed – safely move the cub to a sheltered, safe spot nearby, handling the cub as little as possible.”

Foxes that become used to humans do not survive in the wild and cubs should only be taken into captivity as a last resort.

If you find a fox cub that’s injured, sick, in immediate danger or has their eyes closed then call the RSPCA for advice on 0300-1234999.