10 Things You Should Know About Domesticated Foxes

F O X E S 10

T h i n g s

Yo u

S h o u l d

K n o w

A b o u t

D o m e s t i c a te d

Designed by: Alondra Armijo Morales

10 Things You Should Know About Domesticated Foxes In the United States

Dogs, cats, and birds are all great pets but have you ever thought of what it would be like to have another kind of pet? What animals out there can be pets? Can you take

care of one? In this booklet you will learn more about the frustration and happiness of owning a domesticated or tame fox and how they came to be.

Contents 02 Where are Foxes Located?

04 Fur Farming

06 Wild vs Domesticated

08 Fox Farm Experiment

10 Fox Breeding

12 Where are They Legal?

14 Cost for Fox

16 Fox Care

18 Where Does the Money Go?

20 Is a Fox Right for You?

22 Sources

Where are Foxes Located?

IN THE UNITED STATES

Red foxes or foxes, as they are commonly known, are

currently the most common and widely distributed of all

wild carnivores. Foxes are native in most of the northern hemisphere and their geographical distribution spans from North America to Eurasia and Japan. The north-

ern limit of this distribution is the Arctic Circle and the

southern is Central America, North Africa and the Asian steppes.

European red foxes have been introduced to Australia

(1800), the United States and Canada (1600-1700) and

various other locations in the northern hemisphere. In North America foxes rapidly spread, it is thought that

this happened at the expense of the local fox subspecies (Vulpes vulpes fulva). Foxes are very adaptable animals

and live in habitats as different as tundra, mountain re-

gions, deserts and urban and suburban areas. This is why foxes can successfully colonize new environments and

become invasive species, competing with and predating

Key

on the local fauna.

02 // Where are Foxes Located?

Red Fox

Grey Fox

Arctic Fox

Fennec Fox

Black Fox

Pale Fox

Ruppell's Fox

Blandford's Fox

Most Common Foxes & Locations

Where are Foxes Located? // 03

Fur Farming COATS, BOOTS, AND TORTURE

Utilizing animal fur as a method to keep warm during harsh winters was very common with our ancestors.

Throughout the years, we have turned what used to be a necessity into a luxury.

As fur farming became more and more popular, peo-

ple started becoming aware of how animals were being

captured to be able to acquire their skin. Upon realizing the torture these animals endured, hunting for animal

pelt has become illegal in many countries, especially in

Europe; but this does not mean that it is still not a problem. Due to the huge population in foxes, they are the

second most hunted animal. This treatment in the fur

farming industry lead to the curiosity to stop the cruelty.

85%

of the fur industry's skins come from animals living captive in fur factory farms.

04 // Fur Farming

“Throughout the years, we have turned what used to be a necessity into a luxury.�

Fur Farming // 05

Wild vs Domesticated

Prefer to Be Alone

PET OR WILD ANIMAL?

There are many differences between a fox in the wild and a domesticated or tame fox. Some of these are physical differences, many are psychological.

Just as dogs, tame and domesticated foxes have been

trained or genetically modified to like humans and to

have physical attributes that we tend to like such as soft

Many Can Be Found All Over the Wolrd

fur. Wild foxes prefer to be alone and are very good at

surviving for they have developed special instincts for

hunting. Domesticated foxes, on the other hand, if left

alone or thrown into the wilderness, they are most likely to die.

Although these two foxes may look very similar, their

character upon facing human interactions is what helps differentiate them the most.

They Are Still Hunted In Many Countries

06 // Wild vs Domesticated

WILD

Keen Survival Instincts

Can Be Trained Like Dogs

No Survival Instincts

with Difficulty Treated to Like Humans

DOMESTICATED

Softer, More Colorful Fur

Make Many Sounds

When Fearful, They Release a Powerful Odor

High Protein, Vegetable,

and Fruit Diet

Wild vs Domesticated // 07

50 Years

of experimentation, and the first domesticated fox had finally been created.

08 // The Fox Farm Experiment

The Fox Farm Experiment DOMESTICATION AND GENETICS

For many years, fur farming industries would capture

many wild animals such as foxes and collect their fur.

To make it easier for them, they would breed those who behaved better until tame foxes came to be.

A Soviet geneticist named Dmitry K. Belyaev was

very interested by this and thought that domestication was something that could be genetically done. For his

practice, the worked on tame foxes from fur farming in-

dustries to show that domestication could be done. After

many years, the first domesticated fox had been created.

This fully domesticated fox cost several thousands of

dollars and is often shipped to the USA in states where it is legal to have this animal as a pet. Thanks to Dimitry,

more awareness was brought to the excesive fur farming in Europe as well as the scientific reasoning behind domestication.

The Fox Farm Experiment // 09

Fox Breeding BREEDING GENETICALLY MODIFIED

The process for genetically domesticated foxes and tame

perfect pet fox. The genetically domesticated foxes are

one that happened not so long ago. Humans have been

have many dog like traits. As for tame foxes breed in

foxes to be able to be well behaved around humans was

known to tame all sorts of animals, including foxes. We

see stories of these in folklore and children’s books and

much of what they say is accurate. Foxes are really smart animals that prefer solitude which makes wanting them

most similar to dogs. These crave human attention and farms, they are still wild foxes that like humans and have some dog like traits for having experienced what human contact was for so long.

As if these changes weren’t enough, domesticated

to be man’s best friend quiet hard.

foxes also have physical features similar to dogs as liking

genetically domesticated, this opened up many doors in

nurtured. As these changes kept happening, mating

After Dimitry was able to prove that animals can be

genetics. His more than fifty years of research lead to

seeing how breeding the most tame foxes together and

to be scratched, having floppy ears, and wanting to be patterns among foxes multiplied.

then modulating the genetics of these would lead to the

2-7

pups or baby foxes are born per litter

10 // Fox Breeding

Fox Breeding // 11

Where are They Legal?

WHERE ONE CAN OWN A FOX IN THE USA

Although foxes are becoming a very common animal

for people to own as pets, they are not legal to own in

Illinois

Arkansas

every state. Foxes are allowed to have as pets only if you

certify that you can own one and if bought legally. If you

are taking care of a fox and you don’t have it legally, then you could face time in jail.

The best way to certify that you can buy a fox legally

Michigan

would be to go online and verify if your state and city

allow it. If so, make sure to check for credible fox sellers

and do research on how long they have been selling foxes or wild animals for.

If owning a fox is legal in your area, make sure that

you have the resources to care for this fox and follow

all instructions given by the original owner or breeder.

These rules must be followed if not strict consequences may be applied.

12 // Where are They legal?

Ohio

Virginia Indiana

Iowa

Nebraska

Rhode Island Mississippi

Minnesota

Oklahoma

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Where are They Legal? // 13

Top Fox Costs $100

Arctic Foxes

Red Foxes and Fennec Foxes

14 // Cost for a Fox

Cost for a Fox PRICES FOR A "PET" FOX

$8,000

Siberian Foxes

The cost for a tame fox in the USA can cost anywhere

from $400-$2,000. This price is due to how known the seller is and how well their foxes are rated in the community.

As for foxes domesticated in Europe, as the domes-

ticated ones that Dimitry helped create, can cost any-

where from $6,000-$8,000. These are not as common to be wanted for the price is so high but exotic animal lovers are willing to pay the price.

The most common fox to buy would have to be the red

fox followed by the grey fox. These two types of foxes are ones that are most far along in being tame and, in areas where they are legal, they are usually available.

Cost for a Fox // 15

Fox Care RESPONSIBILITIES AND FOX TEMPERAMENT

Taking care of a fox is incredible time consuming. To be able to be fully immersed in your fox’s life, you need to be able to spend a lot of quality time with them. This means that wherever you go, they go.

They are low maintenance when it comes to hygiene

but high maintenance when it comes to attention. They need constant attention when they need it and space when they need it.

As for their diet, they mostly eat regular foods that

we consume such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. They like having their own personal space where they can

have their personal items that will not be touched. Many foxes also enjoy being cuddled and scratched like dogs.

16 // Fox Care

Fox Care // 17

Pin Here Turn Page

these incredible animals.

Where Does the Money God? // 19

to be able to provide healthier lives and better homes for

illegal ownership of a wild animal. All the money helps

able to keep better track of illegal fur farming and the

Some things that these companies do would be being

the mistreatment of these animals in many countries.

of people and companies to be able to bring awareness to

Some of the money also gets donated to different groups

usually goes to vaccinations, food, shelter, and toys.

of these. Money given to local breeders for the adoption

domestication of wild animals as well as the breeding

Europe, helps scientists conduct more research on the

for many domesticated foxes, specifically bought from

and the awareness of these animals. The money given

that you are contributing to research, food, shelter,

Adopting a fox, along with other animals, means

adopting an “exotic� animal.

mitment of adopting a fox, they are doing more than

When someone decides to make the immense com-

WHAT DONATIONS AND ADOPTION FEES DO

Where Does the Money Go?

Junip Loves Her Best Frie Moose(do Instagram: juniperfo 20 // Is a Fox Right

per end og) oxx

Jay

Riot

Loves Sleep and Food

All Smiles

Instagram: jay_red_fox

Instagram:kristenspack

Vincent A Little Prince Instagram: vincent.the.fox

Is a Fox Right for You? WHAT CARING FOR A FOX IS REALLY LIKE

Many think that since they own a dog or a cat, they can

own a fox. This is very untrue. Foxes might be similar to

both animals but in no way are they in the same category.

Foxes are complex creatures that need nurturing from

patient and loving owners. These animals have very

peculiar habits such as the ones that are clearly linked to their wild instincts. Foxes have a very wild temper and

they wish when they wish to do it. Although training is

possible, in can be very difficult.

If considering buying a fox, one must think if one has

the space, the time, and the patience to care for such an

animal. Foxes are kind, witty, and loving animals, but they are definitely not for an average pet owner.

tend to be somewhat savage. They like to do more of what Is a Fox Right for You? // 21

22 // Sources

Sources http://www.city-data.com/forum/pets/849493-states-allow-foxes-pets.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763232/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763232/ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2016/09/14/russian-experiment-breeds-domesticated-foxes/#.WDODDuErLFS https://www.fastcompany.com/3037451/pet-week/meet-your-new-pet-adomesticated-fox http://www.livescience.com/27168-foxes.html http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/animals-used-clothing-factsheets/inside-fur-industry-factory-farms/ http://www.thefoxwebsite.net/populations/northamerica https://www. unsplash.com https://www. instagram.com/juniperfoxx https://beastiet.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/a-red-foxs-gaze/

Sources // 23