A fox crossed the Atlantic on a cargo ship. The Bronx Zoo is figuring out what's next.


Basil the fox at the Bronx Zoo
Courtesy of WCS Bronx Zoo

By Ryan Kost
Published May 22, 2026
37 comments

A red fox that crossed the Atlantic Ocean as a stowaway on a cargo ship and was found at the Port of New York and New Jersey in February is healthy, out of quarantine and has been given a name: Basil.

The Bronx Zoo took the 2-year-old English fox into its care earlier this year after he was secured by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the end of his journey from Southampton, England. The zoo announced Friday that Basil, which rhymes with “dazzle,” was treated for a dangerous parasite known as “French heartworm” and has a clean bill of health.

French heartworm infects the lungs’ blood vessels in wild canids and can cause severe respiratory disease if untreated, according to zoo officials. Basil took three different medications to help clear the parasite, and the zoo said his coat has grown fuller and shinier. He’s also gained some weight, and currently clocks in at 13.7 pounds.

Foxes sometimes get a reputation for being skittish, but Basil is more sociable, said Keith Lovett, vice president and director of animal programs at the Bronx Zoo.


Basil the fox is doing much better after months of treatment.
Courtesy of WCS Bronx Zoo

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