Do you want to own a Domestic Fox as a pet? No problem! But here’s what to know about them first.
What are they?
The red fox, Vulpes Vulpes by its scientific name, is a small canine. They measure about 40 centimeters. It has a very light frame and they weigh only between 5-11 kilos! Its muzzle is long and thin. They have small oval eyes which, like the cat, allow them to see at night. Its tail is very thick. There are many vulpine dresses: silver, marbled, white, gray, etc. However, the common fox, the one found mostly in Europe, is red. They have a white belly, neck, lips, and tip of the tail. It has a black nose and legs while the ears are circled in black. The rest of the body oscillates between red and cream.
The red fox is present in many environments. They live well in forests as in fields, marshes, steppes, or meadows. It’s also common for it to venture near farms or dwellings. They occupy a territory of approximately 350 hectares. It is a crepuscular and nocturnal animal. They like to rest in the open air, curled up in a ball with the muzzle in the tail. It is essential when the fox cubs are born that they hide in a burrow. The red fox usually lives in groups or pairs. However, the scarcity of food may cause the pack to divide. It is therefore possible to find a solitary one here and there.
Is a Domestic Fox a pest? Depends.
The common fox is on the official list of species “likely to cause damage”. In other words, it is considered that it could harm society and agriculture. This is the excuse that is used to justify the hunting of these specimens, which is still legal in many areas. However, no scientific argument can explain the presence of the pin on this list. According to the most popular hypothesis, it is the hunting lobbies that are pushing for them to be included. In fact, by feeding, the animal reduces the numbers of game and poultry. It is therefore a direct competitor to the hunt. However, its presence on the list of pests makes it possible to eliminate it all year round.
Today, more and more environmentalists proclaim loud and clear that the fox is our savior. Despite an omnivorous diet, 80% of it feeds on rodents. So, it mainly eats vegetarian animals, which in turn feed on our crops. By allowing the species to regulate itself rather than exterminating it, we would be helping farmers. Better still, we would allow them to do without – partially or totally – the products harmful to the food chain that they use to fight against rodents.
Can I legally adopt a fox?
Well, if you’re in France, No. The French law does not allow you to have a domestic fox. Moreover, several homes that had adopted one saw their canine be seized by the state.
However, the image of the pin is changing. The associations are doing remarkable work. Its health role, already recognized in the ecological world, is starting to be defended by some farmers. Note also that public interest is growing . As such, more and more countries are legalizing the adoption of animals belonging to the fox family. Let us quote, for example, the fennec whose captivity is possible on the majority of the American territory. In Russia, studies have been carried out for more than fifty years in an attempt to create a domestic fox. In short, the fox seems to be at an important crossroads in its history and things could change.
How does a domestic fox behave?
Numerous videos attest to this: the cohabitation between a family and a red fox can be quite successful. However, the illegality and the scarcity of the matter make the information scarce. Here is what we were able to find.
- Although it may look like dogs in some situations, the fox is a wild animal that has not been domesticated by humans. They need to express behaviors that do not lend themselves to living indoors. If you don’t give it the space to manifest its nature, it may wreak havoc on your home. For example, the pin loves to dig. It makes holes to hide its food, to play, to search, or to make a burrow. Locked inside, they will quickly have to dig in your chair. In short, as is the case with those who wish to domesticate a raccoon, the fox ideally needs access to a large outdoor space. Be careful though, they’re a professional runaway. Either it digs under the fences or it goes over them but it regularly finds a way to escape.
- The pin is naturally possessive with the things that are precious to him, whether it is food or objects. They can bite if they feel like you’re going to take away what they care about. Moreover, they will tend to mark the things that matter to him. They can, therefore, pee on your bed, on their toys, or even on their bowls. The smell of their urine is peculiar. It is difficult to free the objects that have been impregnated with it. Marking is a natural instinct that it is difficult to counteract as it is a reflex.
- It is an animal that attaches itself deeply to one or two people. With them, they’ll be very affectionate, sometimes even more than a dog. However, they’ll also be stressed by the arrival of strangers or people he rarely meets.
- It is a gregarious canine that lives in small groups in the wild. Used very young, it will get along well with other animals. Keep in mind, however, that this is a wild animal. It is best not to leave it with your pets unattended.
- It is not a dog. They have different body language. To understand it, you will have to learn to read it.
- During their first fall, young people have a surge of hormones. Each fox reacts to it differently. This is a period when they tend to bite more. After this time, their instincts are also stronger. The fox can, therefore, be more distant and more aggressive.
- Finally, the animal’s diet must consist mainly of raw meat containing bones. Fruits and vegetables are only a small part of their diet.
Finally, it should be noted that this information is general and that each fox is unique. The age at which he is adopted has a great influence on their behavior. Some pins are also more dominant than others. Note also that many unknowns remain in the education process of a domestic fox.
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