Thinking about getting a new pet...

[ADs_Agent]

I've always loved foxes and think I've decided to take the plunge and be the dude who has a pet fox. Thoughts?

[MamaMia]

http://www.ozfoxes.com/aafoxes.htm

[BillyBall]

If you are going to get exotic, get a Badger. They are very loving and will be extremely well behaved.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Fox urine repels rodents, so it's a good move.

[SoonerLaw09]

If you are going to get exotic, get a Badger. They are very loving and will be extremely well behaved.

Yeah, just ask NormanPride. :D

/rimshot

[MamaMia]

Do foxes make good pets?

*sigh*
In a word: No!

The problem is the word 'pet.' Most people take it to mean a handy companion, a non-human buddy you can emotionally bond with, an animal you can keep in an apartment and drop off at a friend's house (or at the vet) when you want to go on vacation. When people think of a wild ('exotic') animal as a pet, they usually do so for one of two reasons: 1) they saw or read something that featured the animal and made that animal seem friendly or empathetic; or 2) they want to own a cool pet, something that will be the envy of all their friends.

We won't bother with the second reason here. People who want a cool pet to impress their friends are just as likely to buy the animal's fur for seat covers. The animal is an object in this case - like a cool car or cool stereo system - and such people can't be reasoned with. Ruining a life to impress your friends is not reasonable, period.

So let's talk about bonding with a wild animal. First off, foxes do not behave the way they are portrayed in cartoons, comics, TV shows and feature films. Animals are smarter than most people give them credit for, and they do have emotions, but they do not have human-type thoughts and emotions. People who want to bond with an animal inately feel that animals are better, somehow - that an animal will understand them the way no human ever will. This feeling is usually empowered by fiction, either on film or in print. Please believe: there is a huge difference between a cartoon and reality, and all the wishing in the world ain't gonna make it different.

Domesticated animals (dogs, cats, parakeets) can be tamed and trained to be in-home companions, but even they require care and maintenance if they are to thrive. A wild animal cannot thrive in an apartment or a basement, or even a small yard. The best a human can do to live with a wild animal is to adapt their home and lifestyle to that of the animal, which implies owning a ranch or a lot of acreage and having the resources to devote all your time to raising wild animals. Most people don't have the room or the personal resources to devote their entire lives to raising an exotic. Those that do are either professional animal trainers or fur ranchers, and in neither case do they see the animals as 'pets.'

The animal's interests aside, there are a number of very practical reasons why foxes don't make good pets. First off, owning one as a pet is illegal in most cities, in many counties and some states. To own one at all in most places you have to be licensed as a breeder (which means dedicating a lot of land to the operation and being approved by the government), or you have to have a special permit allowing you to own an exotic animal - the latter becoming more rare every day. Owning one without the proper permit or license means your 'pet' is subject to confiscation and will be destroyed if discovered. (State agencies don't relocate or rehabilitate illegal wild animals; they generally don't have the time or resources to bother trying.)

Second, most vets are not licensed to deal with exotic animals and can lose their license to practice at all if they do so 'under the table.' Foxes in captivity need regular attention to keep them healthy since they are not free to take care of themselves, so skipping the vet is a Bad Idea all around. (The same applies to most domestic animals, for that matter. Living with humans is not very healthy for non-humans, overall.) Vets licensed to treat a fox will ask to see your 'exotic' license or permit... so.

Legalities aside, most pet-vets don't have a clue how to treat a fox; it's not part of their training.

Third: foxes smell. They can't help it; they like the way they smell. The odor is strongly similar to that of a skunk - not what you want neighbors to call the police about.

Fourth: foxes are playfully destructive. They like to dig, and they don't have any problem shredding your mattress or sofa cushions; they think carpeting is a challenge since the stuff gives and (therefore) must be diggable if they can just find the right spot. They also like to gnaw on things for fun. Foxes are not as creatively destructive as raccoons, who like to open containers and cabinets to see what's behind Box #3... they are more in the Very Naughty Dog category.

Most of all: a fox will never be happy in captivity. Foxes need a lot of room to roam, and they want to do so according to their schedule. They are territorial and like to pick their own territory. Confined to a room or a small yard, they will pine away and be miserable - not the sort of thing anyone should do to their animal soulmate.

Back to legalities: when illegally housed foxes are discoverd, they are usually destroyed by the local police department or animal control officers rather than 'rescued' to a zoo or wildlife rehab center. Fear of rabies in the wild, combined with the common perception that foxes are noxious animals, dooms most captured foxes to a rapid and sometimes painful death. There are some wildlife rehab centers that will accept foxes if they are brought in by law enforcement agents; but they are few and far between, and most police and sheriff's departments can't be bothered (or can't afford the resources to be bothered...).

It is possible to have a wild fox for a companion, if you are willing to do so on his (or her) terms. Doing so involves many of the same skills as hunting, except the shooting you do will be with a camera. (Better yet, with a sketchbook or digital camera; the 'click' of a normal camera will scare away many wild animals, initially.) If you are quiet, patient and non-threatening, it is possible that foxes will tolerate you being in their territory after a few weeks. The trick is to be as consistent and non-threatening as possible, to allow the foxes to get used to your being there. Once you are part of a harmless landscape, they will accept your presence - as long as you remain non-threatening.

In other words, you can become a fox's 'pet' - living according to his lifestyle and at his convenience. It will never work out the other way 'round.

If you want a pet for your home or apartment, there are lots of ready-made pets who are literally dying for love: cats and dogs in your nearest Humane Shelter. There are many foxy dog breeds which would make wonderful companions. Please consider getting a real pet and saving a life, and leave wildlife in the wild.

[Partial Qualifier]

http://members.cox.net/clymer1/wet-blanket.jpg

[soonerbrat]

don't get a wild animal for a pet. seriously. I had a pet raccoon from when she was a day old til she was about a year old...she was real sweet when a baby, but got meaner than hell. they are WILD not domesticated and should be left that way.

[badger]

Yeah, just ask NormanPride. :D

/rimshot

:mad:

;)

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Is a fox legal? I don't think wild animals can be pets.

[ADs_Agent]

and with that the dream is crushed :(

[Zbird]

I've always loved foxes and think I've decided to take the plunge and be the dude who has a pet fox. Thoughts?

My bro who lives in Tulsa always said he wanted to buy an Anteater, put a dog collar on it and take it for walks in River Park to freak out all the dog lovers who'd ask "What kind of dog is that?"