Islanders on Orkney have not witnessed a native fox for almost 3,000 years.
So it created something of a stir this week when the body of a young vixen appeared out of the blue in the island’s capital Kirkwall.
The discovery sparked concern from shocked locals, who fear the tick-covered mammal could spread infection among other animals on the island.
It even prompted NatureScot to warn it was against the law to release any animal, or allow it to escape, on an island where it is not native.
It comes after a similar discovery of a young male fox in 2007 which left farmers and environmentalists equally perplexed.
Orkney has not witnessed a native fox for thousands of years
Rhona Ley, one of the directors at NorthVet where the latest fox was taken, said: ‘It was a young female fox and the most likely cause of death would be a road traffic accident.
‘It wasn’t freshly dead, so it had probably been dead for several days because there were signs of decomposition there.
‘It did have several fractures in its legs, as well. They happened after it died, but it is very difficult to say what caused that.’
The mystery of how the creature found its way to Kirkwall has sparked wild speculation about its journey to Orkney.
The fox’s body was found near the Balfour Hospital, in Kirkwall, by staff members on their way to work.
The hospital is just a mile from the nearest ferry terminal and three miles from the local airport.
Islanders are mystified over how the fox landed in Kirkwall
Some are concerned it may have been a stowaway from the mainland, but there is also suspicion that it may have been allowed to escape.
Gary Foubister, Orkney and Islands Council’s trading standards manager, said the discovery had been reported to police to investigate.
He said: ‘It is a serious offence to release non-native species, dead or alive.
‘Anyone with information should get in touch with Police Scotland on 101.’
And a Nature Scot spokesman said the organisation was ‘aware of the discovery of a dead fox in Kirkwall’ and anyone who sees a fox on an island should report it to them.
The spokesman said: ‘Preventing predatory mammals like foxes from becoming established on our islands saves the need for costly control in the future.
‘It is against the law to release any animal, or allow it to escape, on an island where it is not native.’
Foxes have not been found on the island since the Iron Age.
There was an attempt to introduce them in the early 20th century, but this failed.
Foxes are well known for taking small livestock and ground-nesting birds, with the creatures controlled in the countryside because of the impact they can have.
The only Scottish islands where there are wild foxes are Skye and Bute.
