Rehabilitating fox cubs is fun but keeping them wild is Stapeley Grange's priority.

It is the time of year where we do get fox cubs come in - usually orphaned - and in preparation for their arrivals we usually have a room set up with carriers and cuddly toys, so that when they arrive they can be moved straight into these without as little stress to them as possible.

You might wonder why we give them a cuddly toy - this is because fox cubs will remain isolated for seven days before they can be introduced to other cubs, so a stuffed toy can give them a little comfort during what can be a very stressful time for them.

Our first cub of 2019 came from Sheffield. He was found close to a busy road and alone. His eyes were also closed which meant help was needed immediately.

Our advice is that if you see a lone baby wild animal, unless it is obviously injured or in immediate danger from predators or traffic, monitor the situation from afar as it may not need rescuing. Young animals have a much greater chance of survival if they remain with their mothers.

If you find a fox cub on its own and its eyes are open, it’s 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 – move it to a sheltered, safe spot nearby, handling it as little as possible.

Foxes that become used to humans do not survive in the wild. If you are concerned about an uninjured fox cub, or you have found a cub and its eyes are still closed, please contact the RSPCA on our 24-hour cruelty and advice line on 0300 1234 999.

Every year wildlife centres across the country are inundated with young wild animals after people, with the best of intentions, believe them to be orphaned or abandoned and bring them in. If you are unsure, we have plenty of information on our website. You can also call us on 0300 1234 999 for advice.

For our little Sheffield cub, he is doing well and his eyes are now open. He will be slowly introduced to other cubs which come in to us, and when he is strong enough we will release him into a suitable place in the wild.

This year is a big year for Stapeley Grange, as it’s our 25th anniversary. Over this time our team would have helped over 130,000 wild, domestic and exotic animals. Please follow us on facebook RSPCAstapeleygrange or twitter: @RSPCAstapeley or @Stapeleycats to find out what events we have planned to celebrate this achievement. You can also sign up to our quarterly newsletter: https://www.rspca.org.uk/stapeleynewsletter