A BRIT fox shocked New York customs officials after hitching a 3000 mile ride on a car transport boat.
The sly stowaway ventured across the pond after sneaking into a cargo docked at Southampton on February 4.
The two-year-old miraculously survived the 14 day trip but had “gone through a lot”.
Customs officials were stunned to discover the red-haired male at the Port of New York and Jersey on February 18.
The bushy-tailed hitchhiker is now in the care of the Bronx Zoo, and is “settling in well”.
The zoo’s director of animal programme, Keith Lovett, said a suitable permanent home will be found for the animal.
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A spokeswoman for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which runs the zoo, said the fox weighs around 11 pounds and appears to be healthy.
The zoo said in a statement: “The Bronx Zoo regularly works with officials to help rescue wildlife that is illegally trafficked through nearby ports and airports.
“In this case, the Bronx Zoo was able to assist with the stowaway red fox discovered aboard a vessel entering a local port.
“The fox is currently in the Animal Health Centre at the Bronx Zoo, where it is under the care of the zoo’s animal and veterinary teams. Initial examinations indicate that the fox appears to be in good condition.
“Veterinarians are awaiting results from additional routine health screening.
“Once the veterinary team determines that the fox is healthy, the zoo will work with wildlife experts to identify an appropriate long-term home for the animal.”
A spokesman for ABP Southampton said “The Port of Southampton handles everything from cars to containers to cruises, but even we were surprised to find a fox had booked itself a Transatlantic crossing.
“Clearly it fancied swapping the Solent for the Staten Island Ferry, though next time we’d recommend it considers the Queen Mary 2, which offers the Southampton to New York route with considerably more comfort.”
Red foxes, officially known as Vulpes Vulpes, are among the most widespread carnivorous mammals in the world, roaming across Europe, Asia, North America and parts of Africa.
Their adaptability allows them to survive in forests, grasslands, and cities, munching on everything from fruit to rodents.