How a furry-convention-attending, Midwestern-accented fox owner teamed up with a bizarre Floridian exotic animal importer and a Soviet geneticist to bring pet foxes to your living room.
Posted 01.23.2013 at 2:00 pm
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Domestic Fox Kits: via The Domestic Fox
How's A Domesticated Fox As A Pet?
So what's it like to have a domesticated fox as a pet? Not quite like a dog, says Fedewa--a fox isn't a cool-looking dog, it's a different animal with different behavioral quirks. "Foxes are highly intelligent," says Fedewa, "and because of that they're ridiculously curious." Fedewa's fox, Anya, is not very big--only about 10 pounds, the weight of a mid-sized cat, though with her fluffy winter fur, she appears much larger. Anya is prone to digging up potted plants and chewing on them; foxes have a much stronger digging impulse than domesticated dogs. They also need an outdoor enclosure. Fedewa's cost a few thousand dollars to build and is filled with sand so Anya can dig. And fox urine is a major problem: Fedewa says you should "imagine cat pee, but a million times worse. It smells like skunk, it's the most pungent thing in the universe. If it gets in your carpet, you need a special enzyme to break it down, so if your fox marks [your home], that's pretty destructive." Some foxes can be house-trained to use a litter box, but they will still sometime mark their environment.
A fox isn't a cool-looking dog.Anya is also not quite as trainable as a domestic dog; she can obey some commands, but has a shorter attention span than most dogs. Going for walks is also tricky. Fedewa says Anya will walk on a leash, but doesn't like it much--she thinks Anya feels exposed and is tense and nervous. Neighbors, too, have been a problem. Fedewa had to move once already. A neighbor called the city, who sent over investigators and told her she was not allowed to have the fox. This is not legally accurate, but the legal fees required to fight that battle outweighed Fedewa's desire to stay put. So she moved, to a more forgiving property with about an acre of land in the southeastern corner of Michigan.
Those are minor hurdles for Fedewa, if they even are hurdles. That's what comes with owning a fox. And in truth, those are very minor issues in the world of exotics. Anya is affectionate, which hardly any exotics are; she plays, she recognizes and craves attention from her owner. She has quirks, but she is, distinctly, a pet. Both Fedewa and Kalmanson are vocal about this distinction: exotic, non-domesticated animals are not pets, and during my interviews, both Fedewa and Kalmanson expressed disdain (mild from Fedewa, blunt from Kalmanson) for private citizens who want to make wild animals their pets. But Anya is a pet.
Why Do I Even Want One?
We as humans have a desire to make the cuter wild animals our pets, an impulse sometimes called "Bambi syndrome." It's a very peculiar impulse. Wanting a pet is not peculiar, of course. Stanley Coren, professor emeritus in the psychology department at the University of British Columbia and expert on the subject of the dog-human relationship, reminds us that even though city-dwellers tend to think of domesticated animals in terms of housepet companions, they've been incredibly important throughout human history. "Domestication did not likely begin," he says, "because you really want a cute animal in your house." The prevailing theory is that the domestication of the dog, for example, began as certain dogs found free discarded food around early human settlements. They bred with other dogs that could tolerate being around humans, self-selecting for tameness. Then humans found that these animals could serve a purpose, and bred them accordingly.
Organic Pest Control: Cats are often used as pest control in addition to as companions. via The Sun
Domesticated animals are useful. Dogs are used for hunting, herding, and security; cats are used for pest control, horses for transportation, and a host of livestock animals (cows, sheep, goats, pigs) for food, milk, or fur. But for a large percentage of the first world, that kind of usefulness is mostly a bonus now, in our pursuit of owning a sentient warm cute furry thing that likes us. Your cat caught a mouse? Aw, isn't that cute. Oh, and call the exterminator when you get a chance. Ech, mice.
Domestication of other animals is one of three traits most associated with humans as a species, along with tool use and "symbolic behavior" (language, art, rituals). A study by CalTech and UCLA found that when shown pictures of animals, neurons in test subjects' amygdalas went nuts--regardless of the cuddliness of the animal. In fact, the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes memory and emotion, reacted much more strongly to pictures of animals than to pictures even of people. The theory is that reacting strongly to other animals--be they potential enemy, food, or friend--was an essential development for early man, one that's still found in our brains today.
So, we react strongly to animals. But why do we have the impulse to domesticate wild animals?
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Dan, Mitch Calmanson sounds a great deal like my father and I believe your description is ill-chosen. "Speaking ones piece" and then remaining silent isn't unusual. It creates opportunity for intelligent conversation. Those who can't keep up their end of a conversation might find it off-putting. Those whose intent is to learn listen.
The headline reminded me of something I saw on TV years ago.
Then I read the article and it is EXACTLY the same research I saw on TV years ago.
I thought we would have done more with that knowledge by now.
Why are animals still endangered? Where is my miniature pet elephant?
Its simple animal breeding anyone can do. We should have domesticated versions of all wild animals by now. Especially those that are easy to breed.
This story was covered in a PBS special called "Dogs Decoded" about canine DNA and domestication. They were using these foxes as an example of how domestication can actually change the physical traits of these animals, such as shorter snouts, floppy ears and more "expressive" eyes. If you have Netflix, it's on there.
Foxes are awesome!
The work done to make more tame fox's were not in any way an attempt to make a pet. They were to be used as animals for the fur trade. Wild animals would be tested to see which ones tended to be less wild and then bred to less wild ones. The changes brought on by this breeding was to make very tame fox but failed in the attempt to make good quality fur. (lucky for the fox)
All of this is on a PBS show.
Who the heck has $8000 for a pet fox? I mean seriously.
I have to wonder about the domestication project. What exactly happens to all of the non chosen ones? Were they destroyed as unsuitable - or left to enjoy life at club Russia?
Those would seem to be the choices -- especially in the later stages. As the project progressed, some indivduals involved would certainly not thrive in the wild, while also not being suitable as companions.
Great feature. I've always wondered why so many people seem to want exotic animals. Honestly I've questioned their sanity any number of times (especially the ones with "extreme" animals). After reading the article, I'm not quite so sure about having such strong thoughts about those people. All I can say is that I certainly don't want one. An ordinary house cat is more than enough for me. Also, I'm not comfortable with the idea of even domesticated exotic animals. Just because an animal is domestic does not mean it can't go nutty and attack a neighbor.
I thought this story sounded familiar and sure enough that's because it was in Scientific American in 2010.
blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2010/09/06/mans-new-best-friend-a-forgotten-russian-experiment-in-fox-domestication
And the great thing about it, their version is written for grown-ups, it's not written in lolcat trying to be down with the kids.
@reader_6789
you created an account for that comment?? The article you referenced is only about the Russian fox study and barely even mentions pets. How is that the same as this article (see title)?
But When Can I get Bunnygirl?
Don't be surprised if it eats your cat.
It seems weird to me to genetically engineer an animal to love us...
at least when we initially domesticated wolves they served a purpose, we needed them to help us with livestock, to hunt vermin, etc...
we're breeding these poor animals in labs merely for our own amusement... it doesn't seem fair or humane.
I will be speaking to the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board on Feb 9 to make a case for making foxes legal pets in AL (currently ALL foxes are illegal regardless of origin). Please consider signing my petition at Change.org/petitions/domestic-fox-legalization. If you have any advice or if you know someone willing to write a short paragraph or two about their experience, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!!
I live in Georgia where we have an ample supply of (common) possums. I had the occasion to rescue some baby possums, which I later learned was illegal to do (without a wildlife rehab license of some sort). I'll tell you, baby possums are really fun to play with, and fully-grown possums are not the disgusting, filthy, vicious animals you may think. Their behavior is roughly comparable to cats: they keep themselves clean, but don't have much personality or a complex behavioral repertoire, and I never had one bite or scratch or otherwise act aggressive toward me (I'm not referring to wild possums but the ones I rescued and raised). They can be trained to use a litter box. An expert will probably tell you there's dangers trying to tame or domesticate possums, and I would defer to a true expert. I just regret that an interesting and fun animal that is at the opposite extreme of being endangered is illegal to own.
The very nature of this is been repeated in humans and yet current modern human culture is in denial about the document written history given to them from the (beings that come down from above) who created humans to serve the GODS, via the Sumerian tablet history.
Prior to the Sumerians culture, no such story existed before like this, so it is documented history, not hand me down myth. There is a large difference.
You know, Neanderthal is documented to be an independent bunch living in groups of 10 with larger brains than modern humans. The GODS need to domesticate the local primates, enable their communication skies, instill them a high desire to gather\greed, with the imagination and intelligence to do so. It is said, as we obey the GODS, they are please.
What a perfect domesticated pet, lol!
ROFL..... snort.
Hmmm I know people who own Bobcats here in Texas. And have seen first hand how these animals will cuddle and play with their owners. So..I think it all depends on the individual animal and how its hand raised. My friends Bobcat even plays with his dog lol! Not all animals from the wild will try to bite your face off!
@killerT
I believe there are some animals that people have tried domesticating in the same way the Institute did, but were unsuccessful. I think this has been tried with zebras several times but for whatever reason, never works.
Far Out Man, my comment was as much about the writing style as the repetitiveness. I don't think the pet aspect of the story added anything because it was so casual and rambling. "So, I want a pet fox. But I won't get one. I will take pictures of them and post them on my Facebook." I would rather read about actual science more than Dan Nosowitz's diary. This site seems to be making a big push to get young male readers, all the video game and smart phone app "news" and dumbed-down headlines, and I like grown-up science articles, not rambling personal stories speculating about people being "weirdos" and narcissistically centered on the author's feelings.
reader_6789,
Social media just sells better.....
I don't know about foxes, but my wolf is a butthole.
@reader_6789
very well then. I found the article to be quite interesting and well written. Of course I'm coming from the side that wouldn't want a wild animal as a pet, so I'm sure that caught my attention right away. The article covered all the bases nicely and as I indicated, it did make me sit back and ask myself if I was being too judgmental. However, even now I'm asking myself why Dan would want a fox ... and I certainly don't want my neighbor to have a wildcat as a pet!
Help Stop Fox and Coyote Hunt Pens. Please read and pass on the more people who know the facts the better. o-called foxhound training facilities, or fox pens, as they are more commonly known, are parcels of land with a minimum size of 100 acres, which are entirely fenced to create an escape-proof enclosure into which foxes are released, ostensibly for the purposes of training foxhounds to follow the scent of foxes and pursue this quarry. Foxes are live-trapped from the wild within a 50-mile radius of the facility, and stocked into these enclosures at densities determined by the owners. Then, for a fee paid to the fox pen operator, hounds are allowed inside the facility to pursue these foxes. While owners and advocates of these facilities contend that the foxes are not harmed by this confinement and pursuit, the fact that approximately 4,000 foxes have been introduced to fewer than 40 such facilities in the last few years seems to contradict such statements. Go the The Wildlife Center of Virginia website for more info.
wildlifecenter.org/news_events/news/help-stop-fox-pens-virginia
Come here, little fox, let us inbreed you into submission :p
dammit, this article really fires me up...I want a pet fox so badly now!
Make me think of this:
“So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--
Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry."
It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you . . ."
Yes, that is so," said the fox.
But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince.
Yes, that is so," said the fox.
Then it has done you no good at all!"
It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Foxes are beautiful, but I still prefer the many dogs and cats we have now! To me, foxes belong free in the wild so we need to help protect them and their natural habitats. - Author Janette of the new poem Beloved Cat: Once Mortal Enemy, Now Immortal Friend at
www.indefenseofcats.com/cat-book.html#BelovedCatPoem
Am I really the ONLY reader who was reminded of "Kevin & Kell" (a web comic) while reading this article?!?!
When tame wild animals grow up they retain the characteristics of their wild counterparts and not those of a domesticated pet. So why would an animal that is affectionate and social by nature acquire an uncharacteristic behavior, like becoming anti-social?