Pet foxes are cute, comical, and sly little escape artists. Usually, most foxes are wary of strangers, however, gray foxes are amiable and affectionate with most people. Diet is a complex issue and should be investigated further, but always follow the evidence. Though in a number of cases—at least in terms of foxes that descend from lines of domestication—the answer is no. Being that foxes like to climb, get this species a cat tree or cat condo. In the wild, they are primarily an insectivorous species with termites and dung beetles making up 80 percent of their natural diet. Question: Which foxes are legal to own in upstate New York and what do you recommend as the best diet? Question: Are red foxes legal to own in California? An animal that has adapted to life in the Arctic, it is sensitive to hot temperatures and may overheat easier than other foxes. Has the idea of owning a pet fox piqued your interest? Keeping native wildlife species like the red fox as pets is still banned in Texas. The enclosure must have a double-door entrance and be triple-checked to be escape proof. Physical Characteristics: Unusually large ears; yellowish-gray coat; black face and legs; black-tipped ears and tail. The smell is said by owners to be impossible to remove. Physical Characteristics: Thick, soft gray coat with silvery tones and whitish underside; black-tipped tail. Bat-Eared Fox Otocyon megalotis a.k.a Delalande's fox, black-eared fox, big-eared fox, and sometimes incorrectly called a cape fox, which is a different species Another desert fox species from Africa, the bat-eared fox usually weighs around 4 1/2-12 pounds and is about the size of a small dog. Gray foxes are the calmest and friendliest fox species. For instance, even if you are within your right to own your pet fox, you may still end up losing hours and hours of time and thousands of dollars to legal processes in order to defend that right. But despite Swiper's legal status, the knee-jerk reaction that the public will likely have to such a shocking sight can invite trouble. Though some owners find relative success litter training their foxes, it's important to remember that even trained foxes still occasionally urinate to mark their territory—and the smell is extremely pungent and difficult to remove. They only come out at last light and are usually nocturnal. These foxes are native to the plains of Africa. (T.geder, 2015). The traumatic event ended when the police returned Swiper after consulting with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. 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. How much wond be to buy a wolf and fox as a pet, How much for a fox im a big fox fan and i want one so bad, i want to have a pet fox do you have any sugestions. Successful lobbying by fennec fox owners have kept the 3-pound canid legal in what is considered a "ban state. In a perfect world, this might be the case. It is quite possible that you will pull your hair out trying to make sense of exotic pet laws. So it's generally best to keep their existence quiet. Only a few years ago, the range was around $800–$1,000. Due to a small breeding stock in the U.S., Arctic foxes are overbred and some possess genetic problems. You must determine with concrete certainty that foxes are legal in your state, county, and residential association. Most exotic pets lack popularity, because the general public is unwilling to tolerate their traits and needs that pertain to activity level, house manners, and housing requirements. Silver foxes are a domesticated variety of red fox that has been bred exclusively in Russia. Also classified as Vulpes vulpes, it is a different color variation of the red fox. They have black pointed ears, canine teeth, and a white underbelly all the way up to their chins. Pet foxes have basic needs that you should consider before adopting: Exercise and enrichment, habitat considerations, special diet needs, and regular care by an exotic animal veterinarian. It is considered a basal canid species, resembling ancestral forms of the family, It has also been called a Sub-Saharan African version of a fennec fox due to their huge ears. By using The Spruce Pets, you accept our, 19 Considerations for Choosing an Exotic Pet, Russian Red Fox (Siberian Fox): Species Profile, Sibfox Is No Longer Your Pet Fox Destination, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach Species Profile, 10 Best Tarantula Species to Keep as Pets. The bat eared fox is a type of fox that lives in the African savannah. your own Pins on Pinterest This list is as inclusive as possible for states that allow any species of fox. It is said to smell much, much worse than cat or dog urine, and special enzymes will often be required just to break down the chemicals within it. I've always liked gray foxes though. The story of Vader the fox is a good example of the consequences that could occur if your pet isn't legal. These teams consisted of an adult mated try and their young. Foxes can eat somewhat similarly to dogs and cats, but generally require more complex nutritional needs. Corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac) hail from northern Asia. As members of the canine family, they look a lot like domesticated dogs. Animals that prey on bat-eared foxes include eagles, jackals, and hyenas. Bat-eared foxes are highly social and nocturnal animals. This species is another rarity in the exotic pet trade. You will still get in trouble if they find out it’s a red fox. The outdoor venture ended when Fairfax County animal control officers confiscated the animal and charged Sitterson with unlawful possession of wildlife. All exotic pets will benefit from some form of comfortable interaction with their owners for enrichment purposes. Big-eared fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) are the most popular type of pet fox. If you don't have abundant outdoor space for a fox to run around in, then you probably shouldn't own one. Less common, but sometimes available, are the swift, pale, and bat-eared foxes. Mammals often mark their territory with urine, and this cannot be trained out of them. 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