How much are foxes as pets

The traumatic event ended when the police returned Swiper after consulting with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. They determined the fox was legal due to his silver coloring, proving he was a "domesticated" fox, which is legal in Virginia. Sitterson naively saw her pet fox as being good as any "normal" pet. In a perfect world, this might be the case. But despite Swiper's legal status, the knee-jerk reaction that the public will likely have to such a shocking sight can invite trouble.

If you've read through this information, read both positive and negative testimonials from fox owners, and still can't shake the desire to pursue getting one, a good place to start looking up breeders is Exotic Animals for Sale.

I've also written the PetHelpful guide Exotic Animals for Sale: Dos and Don'ts , which can help you expertly navigate this site for rare animals. Much of the information in this article comes from Sybil's Message Board , an excellent place for people thinking about exotic pets to search for and read articles from experienced owners.

You can also ask questions about legality, licensing, and other essential information. Question: I have a pet red fox. She's suddenly very weak and distant. I'm wondering if she has a belly ache. She'll let us pet her, but acts as if her stomach bothers her when we touch it. Do you have any remedies for upset stomach in foxes? Answer: You really need to see a vet. Animals like foxes can hide their illness until something is really wrong.

The weakness is especially concerning. Question: Which foxes are legal to own in upstate New York and what do you recommend as the best diet? Answer: Fennec foxes only. They can eat commercial cat food, whole prey like mice, quail chicks, ect. I got a pearl fox from a vet in Morristown, TN.

I live in Dandridge, TN. I adopted her.. We love our pet foxes! Tn says any fox breeds found in the wild may not be kept as pets it listed red and grey. Taylor, a marble is a color phase of a red fox. I own one. I live in Tennessee where it is illegal to own native foxes, but since I have a permit I can own my red marble fox.

Saw the price, made me jump until I realized, "OH, that's just the fennec foxes. I will still have to do some research. Thank you! What if I get a marble fox or whatever it's called but it had some red in it but it was a marble fox and someone saw the red and called the animal place It was a marble fox plz tell me. The gray fox together with the Channel Islands fox is the most basal canid, meaning all other canines are more closely related to each other than to the gray fox.

It's likely that it doesn't have a skunky odor to its urine, and neither does the bat-eared fox which is also not closely related to true foxes , however I have not been able to determine one way or another. I've heard both that the gray fox is both the most "cat-like" and the most "dog-like" of foxes, but I've never talked to anyone who kept one firsthand.

I know nothing whatsoever of the bat fox, but it's also likely not particularly similar to true foxes personality-wise. I've always liked gray foxes though. If I lived somewhere where foxes were legal and had space, it's the only canid I could see myself plausibly keeping. Also, I'd rather not disabuse legislators of the idea that non-wild colors makes for a domesticated species. It's fairly easy to get non-wild color forms in any animal after a few generations, and given how irrational people are about "domestic" animals, it would make keeping a lot of exotics a lot easier.

Massachusetts, for example, has a large number of animals that are considered domesticated based on color forms; some of them, like the mink, I don't think would be legal if MA legislators weren't deluded about what domestication is.

The answer to that question depends on what your definition of a good pet is. These little creatures come with a host of requirements and surprises. Here is a little about what owning a fennec fox as a pet is like. Fennecs, even those bred as pets, are high energy nocturnal animals that can be flighty, skittish and shy. Sudden noises or unexpected movements can put them on high alert and make these little guys extremely nervous.

Fennec foxes are not cuddly mini dogs! With their soft fur and big eyes fennecs look like they should be cuddly and friendly but this couldn't be further from the truth.

Fennec foxes typically do not enjoy being handled let alone cuddled, and may bite if scared or nervous. Exercise is essential for these energetic animals. Allowing your fennec space to play in your home will be key to keeping an fennec as an indoor pet. Indoor play can be high spirited and can result in broken items. When planning for indoor fennec activity it's important to note that unneutered males will spray urine to mark their territory.

If outdoor walks are more suited to your lifestyle, with some time and lots of patience fennecs can be trained to walk outdoors on leash. In warmer climates, a large outdoor enclosure can be an ideal way to both house your fennec and provide room for exercise. Be sure to check with an exotic companion animal vet to ensure that your area is warm enough to comfortable house your fennec outdoors. An outdoor enclosure should include plenty of room to run and play as well as logs to climb and places to hide, and will need a solid base.

In the wild fennecs dig underground burrows that often reach 32 feet in length. If you have a well-fenced backyard 5 - 6 feet high with no gap at the bottom you could allow your fennec to run freely with vigilant supervision. Cultures across the globe consider foxes to be incorrigibly wild.

In both ancient fables and big-budget movies , these fluffy mammals are depicted as being clever, intelligent and untamable. Untamable, that is, until an unparalleled biology experiment started in Siberia almost 60 years ago. The tale begins with Dmitry Belyaev, who was studying genetics during a very dangerous time in the Soviet Union. State officials campaigned actively against genetic research with a tactic known as Lysenkoism, under which hundreds of biologists were either thrown in prison or executed.

Dmitry Belyaev, the brains behind the breeding. Photo by Institute of Cytology and Genetics. As director of the newly-minted Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Belyaev was curious as to how dogs first became domesticated. He decided that to fully understand the process, he must attempt to replicate the early days of domestication. He picked foxes for the experiment because of their close family ties with dogs both are canids. His research team visited fur farms across the Soviet Union and purchased the tamest foxes on hand.

They figured using the most docile of the wild foxes for their breeding program would hasten the pace of domestication, relative to the thousands of years it took to breed dogs. Instead of being outgoing and excited by encountering people, these foxes were defensive and aggressive.

If you do and it bites someone, that person can report it. When that happens, the fox is euthanized so it can be tested for rabies. Medical and veterinary professionals are required to report fox bites to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The cost of a fox varies greatly. It's also important to keep in mind that this price is only for the animal itself.

Feeding, housing and cleaning a fox adds up to much more. Foxes in captivity can live up to about 14 years. However, in the wild, foxes usually only live a few years. Foxes are illegal to own in most states -- and animal rights activists are fighting to make this the law in all 50 states soon.

In the states where it's still legal to own a fox, owners need to acquire a permit. If you talk to wild animal experts, you'll find some that some are OK with the idea of people owning foxes, but most strongly discourage it. Foxes require a lot of time, energy, money and expertise that most people simply don't have.

People who have owned foxes in the past say that it's a full-time job. Most animal advocacy groups strongly advise against keeping a fox as a pet. Pet Assure is the largest veterinary network in the U. Pet Assure powers DVM Network, a brand built to support our participating veterinary professionals and help them grow their practice.

Visit www. Do Foxes Make Good Pets? Reading time: 4 minutes.