Hi, I'm Jessi. We're here at Animal Wonders where we have two foxes that are ambassadors for their species. I love sharing them with you because they're beautiful and I want to show you that they're having a great life. I love seeing them so happy and I think you enjoy it too. Some of you enjoy it so much that you might be thinking, 'It'd be fun to have a fox as a pet.' So, I'd like to let you know a little bit more about the topic of foxes as pets.

(Intro)

There are several foxes that people have had as pets including fennec foxes, red foxes and Arctic foxes. To be honest, this topic makes me a little uncomfortable because I have experience with all three of these species and I would never consider any of them to be easy to care for. Fennec foxes are adorable with their huge ears. They look like a caricature of a chihuahua and they act like a ferret-kitten-chinchilla ball of fury. The kits will often run around turbo-speed with no regard for bladder control. They're nervous, spook easily, and quick to bite.

Red foxes are also high energy but not quite as ballistic. They're cunning and will quickly exploit any weakness in the system. As kits, they are extremely possessive of food. As they grow older, they mistrust new people and have trouble adjusting to new situations. They can be flighty, they scent mark - and it smells like skunk.

Arctic foxes are probably the most difficult to live and work with. The younger they are, the less likely they are to trust you and it can take years to form a strong enough trust bond. Have I mentioned scent marking? Well, Arctic foxes take the cake for odour - their urine is intense! And, you can't even imagine what it's like living with a shedding Arctic fox.

Most foxes aren't domesticated, which leaves us with non-domesticated foxes that we only wish were as tame as dogs. Unfortunately, that's not in a fox's behavior. They're solitary and don't need or crave companionship like a dog does. And they won't stick around your house like a domestic cat would if left outside. Of course, you may have heard about a fox who became someone's perfect companion but the reason that these stories are shared and become popular is because they're an exception to the rule. They're extraordinary!

For those of you that would like to know what it might be like to have a fox living in your home... here you go! You're all excited to meet your new friend and show her her new home. You've bought toys, you've set up a soft little bed for her to sleep in, and you've put all your breakable items away. You open the crate door and she hesitates. She's a prey animal so her instincts are telling her to be careful. Then she's overcome with curiosity and she races out to investigate. On the way, she stops to smell the rug and then squats to mark that interesting smell with her urine. She then slips behind the couch to start making her new den. After rearranging the couch innards to her liking, she then slips out to continue exploring. This time, she's looking for food. Her heightened senses tell her exactly where to go. She easily jumps on the counter and opens your cabinet. When you try to protect your food, she growls and tries to bite. Whatever she can't eat in one meal she'll cache for later in safe places like your closet, under your bed or other small, dark places. When a fox caches their food they then mark it to make sure they can find it later. So now you have all your food spread throughout your house, covered in fox urine.

This story is exactly what I envision when someone says they want a fox as a pet. I love foxes and I love being able to take care of Seraphina and Cas but I in no way romanticize our relationship - they're foxes and they come with all their fox instincts. They are not my companions or my pets, they're ambassadors for their species. And I do not think having a fox as a pet is something to take lightly. So, if you're looking for an animal that looks similar to a fox but fulfills the role of a companion, I'd stick with a dog. And, luckily, you have plenty of options for size, shape and temperament that fit your lifestyle.

Thanks for joining us today! If you have any questions or comments, you can leave them below. If you'd like to go an adventure with us every week, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel, Animal Wonders Montana. And if you want to see pretty pictures of animals throughout the week, we're also on Instagram. Thanks, guys.

(Outro)

You've probably heard the word anthropomorphize before. It means attributing human emotions to non-human animals or objects.