‘Very clever’ bat-eared fox on the run after escape from enclosure, California zoo says

A “very clever” bat-eared fox escaped from its habitat at a California zoo — but it may not have gone far, the zoo reported.

Keepers at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert believe it’s “on grounds, likely in one of the gardens, munching on small insects,” the zoo said in a news release.

The bat-eared fox, which weighs about 10 pounds, escaped from a behind-the-scenes holding facility at the zoo on the evening of Monday, Feb. 10, the zoo said.

The fox was spotted several times overnight by searchers but remains on the loose, the zoo said. Bat-eared foxes are not dangerous to humans.

“Their diet consists of insects, and they can be distinguished by their large ears, gray fur around the belly and darker fur on their feet, ears, and tip of the tail,” the zoo said.

The zoo asks visitors to be on the lookout for the fox and to call 760-346-5694 if they spot it. They ask visitors not to approach the fox.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has 600 animals from 150 species.

Palm Desert is about a 120-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.

This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM with the headline "‘Very clever’ bat-eared fox on the run after escape from enclosure, California zoo says."