A fox has died in the wolf exhibit at the Wild Place Project.
Staff spotted the fox on January 17 in the woodland area of the conservation park in Blackhorse Hill, Easter Compton.
Bristol Zoological Society chief zoological officer Dr Christoph Schwitzer said staff repeatedly tried to coax it out with food while the wolves were shut away, as well as using humane traps.
He added: "We also liaised with a fox sanctuary to seek further guidance on how best to get the fox out.
"Despite this, keepers found the dead fox on Saturday morning (January 18) before Wild Place Project had opened to the public.
"We can’t be certain how the fox got into the exhibit. Keepers are regularly checking the woodland and have not found any obvious signs of entry.
"As a conservation and education charity, home to animal species from all over the world, we are saddened by the loss of any animal.”
The fox was found with a puncture wound to its side, but was otherwise "in a perfect condition", said a Wild Place spokeswoman.
She said: "We presume that the puncture wound was caused by a wolf. This cannot be confirmed as no post-mortem examination was undertaken."
Wild Place Project is run by the Bristol Zoological Society and is the sister site of Bristol Zoo in Clifton.
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