COUNTYWIDE : Freeway Fox Pups Star in Name Game

In April, an outpouring of public support persuaded authorities to rescue the Freeway Foxes from their dangerous den alongside a 1-mile extension of the Costa Mesa Freeway. Now, two pups from that family of foxes are waiting to be named and have a new home built for them in Orange County.

After their capture, the mother fox and her four pups were taken to the Los Angeles Zoo. Last month, two female pups were brought to the Orange County Zoo at Irvine Regional Park.

The 7-month-old foxes were placed in a temporary den while work began on their new $3,500 home, which is scheduled to be completed in six weeks, said Tim Miller, manager of regional parks operation for the county.

The two red foxes have been popular with visitors at the zoo, said Scott Pritchard, a park animals keeper.

After the pups returned to Orange County, a booth was set up in front of the zoo for the “Name the Freeway Foxes” contest that has drawn about 350 entries so far, Miller said.

After the Monday contest deadline, the staff for parks and the zoo will screen the entries and send the top 10 to Gaddi H. Vasquez, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He will choose the two winning names.

Each of the winners will receive a one-year pass to county harbors, beaches and parks, Miller said.

The chosen names will be featured in front of the den.

The zoo, 21501 Chapman Ave., is open year round from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.