BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A young female kit fox found entangled in an elementary school volleyball net Thursday morning will survive, but had its left rear leg amputated Friday morning at Bakersfield’s San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital.

The plight of this kit fox, which is estimated to be less than a year old and listed at just under 4 pounds, highlights what has become an increasing problem in the Bakersfield area for the kit fox, which is federally listed as an endangered species; threatened by the state of California. Prior to 2009, there were a total of 11 known instances in Bakersfield of foxes caught in nets (seven died).

So far in 2009, there have been six incidents including the one Thursday (two pups have died). The most common nets where the accidents have occurred include soccer, baseball batting cage, and volleyball nets.

While kit foxes are found throughout California, the only urban areas they commonly inhabit are the cities of Bakersfield and Taft in Kern County, and Coalinga in Fresno County.

Thursday morning, staff members with the non-profit Endangered Species Recovery Program, based at California State University, Stanislaus, were notified by officials at the elementary school that a kit fox was found entangled in a lowered volleyball net on the school grounds. Several foxes frequent the area, including a fox that is collared as part of an ongoing study.

When found, the entangled kit fox’s leg was apparently badly broken, and the net was also wrapped around the animal’s neck. The kit fox was then safely transported to the San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital.

After Friday's surgery, the kit fox will be rehabilitated, but it is not a candidate for release back to the wild. The California Living Museum in Bakersfield, which currently has three other three-legged kit foxes housed there, will take the kit fox once it can be safely transported.

To prevent similar accidents from occurring again, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Dept. of Fish and Game offer the following tips for limiting problems with kit foxes:

Never feed a kit fox, or any other wildlife at ANY time; keep pet food indoors.

Never attempt to touch or handle a kit fox as they likely will bite in self-defense.

Nets at schools and recreational facilities such as playgrounds, parks, etc., should be taken down when not in use.

Nets should be stored safely and furled, particularly at night when kit foxes are active.

More information on the kit fox can be found on the Endangered Species Recovery Program’s web page. Information Provided By The US Fish and Wildlife Office