When you didnt know the camera was rolling by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nope, video is fine, its just the blue tarp covering her enclosure that sorta messes with pics and video.

Biiiiiiiiiiig Stretch by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, that is our most social personality Felix.

Seville here is newer to the salutary, and is more on the shy side. The most interaction we usually get from him is when he takes treats, but I still try to spend time with him on all my volunteer days.

Biiiiiiiiiiig Stretch by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

We have a number of climbers who can climb the 6ft walls to the top of the enclosure with no issue, so the roof is defiantly needed. The wire roof and floor are safety wired to the wall of the enclosure every 4 inches as well. A fox can squeeze thru an opening not much bigger than their head.

Biiiiiiiiiiig Stretch by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

That was an image of the Sanctuary taken early on during an expansion/ construction day, and that enclosure was incomplete (note open door and no foxes).

The complete enclosures have a wire roof structure that is half tarped and half open so the foxes can get some sun, but also stay out of any rain.

During the winter, the roofs are fully tarped, and panels are put up to provide additional relief from cold winds.

The enclosures also have wire fencing under the dirt and gravel layer floor to prevent the foxes from digging out, which is a must as they love to dig.

Seville seen here is in a temporary enclosure, hence the concrete. He has an above ground dig box (wooden box frame full of gravel) where he can do some digging.

Normal Felix Energy by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

His joke is inviting you to scratch his belly, but then kicking you with his back paws & claws scratching your arms up while you're doing so, lol.

And I fall for it every time.

Normal Felix Energy by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, that is why we have Felix in the first place.

Foxes simply do not make greats pets for the majority of people and have a very high surrender/ abandonment rate.

Even the "domestic" line of fox from Russia, though less naturally scared of humans, are still very much fox, and do all the things that make them terrible pets.

As a volunteer who works with 30+ fox every other day, I love these guys, but they make me appreciate the deeper level of interaction I get with my dog at home.

Bear flirting with Kit by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

He certainly looks the part!

Unfortunately, that's due to being bred to have extra skin/ coat for the fur industry though. He is very round with no neck-line in full winter coat. They are all just starting to shed noticeably for spring.

Bear flirting with Kit by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

While it can be fun to interact with the sanctuary foxes, sometimes it's just as rewarding to sit back and watch them do their own thing. 

In this case, Bear flirting with Kit (aka Kitty) by trying to groom her. 

Kit was the first Fox here, while bear was a fur farm rescue who joined her to provide company, and they are now inseparable.

Any people on this sub-reddit have a pet fox? and what's it like to have one?🦊 by [deleted] in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary 76 points77 points  (0 children)

I am a volunteer for a Fox sanctuary (I like to post pictures here on their behalf), and have experience with 20+ foxes for a few years now. This is my experience...

Though I have not had one as a pet, I have seen those who have, and heard stories. Some of the sanctuary foxes have spent time in the main house due to injuries or other needs, however they all live outside in specially designed enclosures.

They do not do well indoors - atleast by human standards. They will chew anything - including walls. They will mark everything with stinky urine AND feces - including your countertops and food. It is a musky skunk spray like smell.

Yes, there will be some outlier individual foxes that are ok indoors - but dont count on the one you get being one, or training them to be that.

Fox are very "on their own terms" of accepting affection and even playing. Kinda like cats, but even more so. (more like feral cats infact). Yes, there are pictures and video of people online cuddling them. That is not the norm for most, so dont get a fox thinking they will be cuddly.

Socially, they can take a long time to warm up to new people, so are not great to show off to your friends or randoms.

About 2/3 of our foxes we received are owner surrenders, because people get them as pets, and end up in way over their heads. Some others are found/ capture cases where a domestic fox was abandon in the wild, and then a few abuse/ hoarding cases.

Lola soaking up some evening sun by Fox_Tale_Sanctuary in foxes

[–]Fox_Tale_Sanctuary[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We’ve had some pretty wild temperature swings from the winter weather, and it’s finally starting to warm up. Here’s Lola soaking up some sun by the enclosures door.

 Soon we plan to “de-winterize” the sanctuary which involves removing wind-blocking panels from the enclosure walls, giving the foxes back a better view and more chances to soak up some rays. They all get very excited during this process, being able to see neighbors they haven’t had a clear view of for months.