Why foxes shouldn't be kept as pets
Have you ever wondered why such an endearing and beautiful creature like the fox has never been commonly kept as a pet?
The reason is that the fox - despite being from the same canid family as the domestic dog - is simply not cut out to be a human companion. Compared to dogs, foxes are completely different in behaviour and character.
From the moment a fox is born it has strongly inbuilt instincts to be afraid of man and this has been carefully developed through millions of years of evolution.
The fox was prey to man in primitive times and all across Ireland this is, unfortunately, still the case.
It is true that some captive foxes are remarkably tame -sometimes inexplicably so - but even these can suffer great stress if taken out for a walk in the park like a dog.
A cub hand-reared from one-day-old may get imprinted onto a human but will always suffer great stress when around other people. Being in constant fear results in much salivation from the mouth and can cause excessive diarrhea.
All foxes have a completely independent nature and cannot be forced to listen to commands. So, expecting a fox to sit, roll over or fetch a stick just wouldn't work!
Most healthy young foxes are able to fend for themselves independently in the wild by the time they are five or even four months old. These are instincts for a life in the wild, not a life in a house or an enclosure. So why would anyone want to keep a shy creature that runs and hides in the corner every time a human being is around, causing it great stress and discomfort for the rest of its life, not to mention taking away its freedom.
Foxwatch Ireland actively discourages the keeping of foxes as pets. After all, a person wouldn't be expected to live out the rest of his or her life in a burrow, earth or hedgerow so why should a fox be forced to adapt to life in a human environment.
If you do find an orphaned cub, there is certainly nothing wrong with taking the animal in (you will be doing a positive thing for its welfare) but only do so with a view to getting it back to the wild again. Before making any move to rescue a cub, please remember to ensure that it is, in fact, an orphan and not just temporarily separated from its mother. Advice on rehabilitating cubs can be obtained from Foxwatch Ireland.
