Look: 'Kittens' brought to animal rescue were baby foxes

May 2 (UPI) -- Arizona wildlife rescuers are urging the public not to capture newborn kittens -- especially when they turn out to not be kittens at all.

The Arizona Humane Society said a resident recently came to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale with a pair of purported kittens they found unattended behind their shed.

Wildlife experts quickly realized the kittens weren't felines at all -- they were gray fox kits.

The AHS said the foxes "will be rehabilitated and released to the wild when they grow old enough."

Officials said the saga should serve as an important reminder to leave baby animals alone.

"DON'T KITNAP KITTENS! We know the first instinct when seeing a litter of kittens is to rush to aid. But in fact, the best thing we can do is leave them for when their mama returns," the post said.

Officials wrote that kittens might be left alone by their mothers for up to eight hours at a time.