Massachusetts Wildlife Rehabilitator Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The condition indicated by a juvenile Red fox exhibiting scabby skin and missing fur is indeed sarcoptic mange. This parasitic disease is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, which burrows into the skin of the host animal, leading to significant irritation, inflammation, and hair loss. The symptoms typically associated with sarcoptic mange include intense itching, scabbing, and the notable appearance of patchy fur loss, especially on the ears, elbows, and abdomen.

In contrast, rabies primarily affects the neurological system and usually presents with behavioral changes, such as aggression or lethargy, rather than skin issues. Canine distemper may lead to respiratory and neurological symptoms alongside some skin issues, but it is characterized by a combination of symptoms, including fever and discharge from the eyes and nose, rather than primarily skin lesions. Rickets, which is a nutritional deficiency related to vitamin D, calcium, or phosphorus, affects bone development, resulting in skeletal deformities and does not present with the scabby skin or fur loss seen in sarcoptic mange. Thus, the symptoms present in the juvenile Red fox clearly point to sarcoptic mange as the correct answer.