In what can only be described as one of the most jaw-dropping zoo incidents recently, a wild red fox broke into the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and killed 25 flamingos in a single night. Yes, you read that right—25. Surprisingly, the attack happened inside the zoo’s secure Bird House exhibit.
According to zoo officials, the red fox found its way in through a hole no bigger than a baseball in the wire mesh surrounding the enclosure. That’s all it needed. Once inside, it was carnage. Flamingos were found dead across the yard the next morning, and one northern pintail duck also didn’t make it. Three other flamingos were injured, and the rest of the flock was immediately moved indoors for safety.
The red fox, of course, was long gone.
Why is The Red Fox So Fast, and Why Are Flamingos Very Vulnerable?
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) aren’t massive animals—they usually weigh around 6 to 7 kilograms —but they’re crafty, fast, and bold. These foxes are opportunistic predators, which is a scientific way of saying they’ll eat just about anything they can get their paws on. Small birds in a pen? Unfortunately, that’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
And when prey like flamingos are penned up with nowhere to fly or hide, the outcome can be devastating. It’s not even about hunger—it’s instinct. Foxes, like some other predators, can go into a frenzy in enclosed spaces where prey can’t escape, attacking far more animals than they need to eat.
And flamingos? Sure, they’ve got those long legs and social smarts, but up against a land predator with sharp teeth and surprise on its side? Not much of a fight.
Zoo Officials Respond and Rethink Security
The zoo quickly patched the hole in the enclosure and set up motion-sensor cameras to monitor for intruders, both wild and human. The surviving flamingos were moved into a covered, secure area while the zoo reviewed its safety protocols. The zoo has also ramped up patrols and inspections, hoping to prevent something like this from happening again.
This wasn’t the zoo’s first encounter with urban wildlife, but it was by far the deadliest. It raised serious questions: How do zoos in city settings protect animals from the animals that live outside their fences?
If there’s one takeaway from this traumatic event, it’s that even in the middle of a major city, nature finds a way to show up—sometimes with sharp teeth and a mean streak.
What Does This Mean For Urban Wildlife Coexistence?
This incident wasn’t just a tragic loss for the zoo’s flock—it was a wake-up call. Urban wildlife is clever and getting braver, especially as cities expand into their habitats. When wild predators cross paths with captive animals, things can go south quickly.
For zoos, the challenge is balancing open, natural-feeling spaces for their animals with security that keeps intruders out. That means regular checks, tougher mesh, and maybe even rethinking how we house certain animals.
Because as this red fox proved, sometimes all it takes is one hole—and one night.
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