Nashville singer rescues foxes from painful skin disease
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Jerry Vandiver, a singer-songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, spends much of his time rescuing red foxes suffering from mange.
For the past seven years, Vandiver has volunteered thousands of hours trapping foxes affected by the skin disease and transporting them to Walden’s Puddle Animal Rescue. Mange, caused by skin mites, causes irritation, hair loss, and can be fatal if foxes develop secondary infections. While treatable, the rescue relies on Vandiver’s dedication because he actively seeks out and traps the animals.
Vandiver uses his social media to share updates on his rescues, growing his online following from 325 to 5,000 as he posted more content about the increasing number of foxes needing help. Walden’s Puddle saw a rise in foxes needing rehabilitation, treating 44 in 2025 and already surpassing 60 by September of this year. Experts believe habitat loss is contributing to the spread of mange, as foxes are forced into closer contact with each other.
The rescue advises residents to secure garbage, avoid poisons, and refrain from leaving out food to help limit the disease's spread. Vandiver uses trail cameras to locate foxes with mange and responds to reports from concerned citizens. He continues to rescue foxes at age 78, driven by a desire to alleviate their suffering and a rewarding feeling when he releases healed animals back into the wild.
