Cuddly Like A Fox: Meet Gizmo, A Pet Fox, And His Keeper
Friday, September 2, 2011
It’s the last day of Pet Week on the Woot blog, and to me, no wild animal seems like a more appealing pet than a fox. They’re cute, smart, playful, closely related enough to dogs to seem petlike, but not as scary as wolves. Indeed, as a decades=long Russian breeding experiment shows, when selectively bred for tameness, foxes become more doglike, both temperamentally and physically. Naturally, I was fascinated by the blog The Pet Fox, and its wealth of posts about fox care, fox behavior, and the editor’s own pet fox, Gizmo (pictured throughout this blog). I just had to ask the editor, who goes by the online handle Ragtatter, about what it’s like to share a home with these one of these lithe, resourceful, tufty-tailed quadrapeds…
How did you start keeping your pet fox? Did you choose Gizmo, or did Gizmo choose you?
I decided I’d like to have a fox for a pet a while ago, and did a lot of research on them before getting one, but when it came time to choose the fox, Gizmo is definitely the one who chose me. When I went to pick out my kit, I had been planning on getting a “marble” fox (white with grey or red patches), but little mud-colored Gizmo was so friendly and charming and such an ugly duckling that he won me over right away. He was an outgoing little cuddler right from the start.
Some people might be skeptical that a “wild” animal could bond with a person the way a dog or cat might. Do you feel like there’s an emotional connection between you and Gizmo?
Me and Gizmo share a very strong bond, and he is surprisingly responsive to my moods and feelings; much more so than my dogs or cats have been. He has an excellent grasp of when I’m feeling down and need a cuddle, or when I’m happy and looking to play with him. I’ve also learned how to read and judge Gizmo’s moods, and can tell when he’s having a laid-back friendly day, or if he’s in a cranky mood.
Do you walk Gizmo?
I walked Gizmo for about the first two years of his life. He used to love his walks, and was very well-behaved on a leash and harness. One of his favorite things to do was collect small objects while we were on our walk; a lot of times he would come home with a pine cone or a rock that he’d found.
Foxes are well-known for their stealth and ability to sneak around. Do you have trouble keeping Gizmo out of areas where he’s not supposed to be?
Gizmo has occasionally surprised me with the places he can get to (one time I found him hanging by his toes from the roof of his play pen!), but we have had relatively little trouble keeping him contained. In general, he wants to be where I am.
Does Gizmo still hunt?
Gizmo will stalk and quarry-leap his toys, but he’s never killed a mouse or lizard or anything like that. He does like to dig up and eat earthworms when he’s in his outdoor enclosure, though.
What are Gizmo’s favorite toys?
Gizmo’s favorite toys are whatever he’s not supposed to have. Dish-towels, wallets, car keys, socks, etc. If it doesn’t belong to him, it’s treasure. As for toys meant just for him, he goes through them very quickly; I have to replace worn and damaged toys so often that he doesn’t have time to form a long-term attachment to them. He is rather fond of rope-toys, and anything that squeaks.
Has Gizmo ever gotten you into hot water with your neighbors, or your community, or the police?
The majority of our neighbors like Gizmo and have no problem with him, and he’s made some friends around the neighborhood. However, about a year and a half ago, we had a neighbor anonymously call the health department and complain because we were walking the fox on public roads. He hadn’t bitten or scratched anyone, hurt any pets, destroyed any property, or anything like that. The complaint was just that he existed. Long story short, due to concerns over rabies risk, we agreed to keep Gizmo confined to our property.
How is Gizmo around children – and how do children react to him?
Gizmo likes kids quite a bit, and greets them enthusiastically. Most kids view him like they would any strange dog—some are very friendly, some are shy. It’s worth noting that this is definitely not the case for all (or even most) pet foxes. If you meet someone who has a pet with them, be it a fox, dog, cat, whatever, be sure to get the owner’s permission before trying to pet it. Gizmo likes strangers, but most animals don’t.
How does Gizmo feel about dogs and cats?
Gizmo loves cats, and for the life of him can’t understand why they won’t play with him. One of our cats, Mischief, likes to aggravate him on principle. Her favorite game is to kick him off of his favorite chair just to upset him. His feelings towards dogs are more mixed. He likes to play with friendly dogs, but all it takes is a hint of hostility to send him climbing me for safety.
Do you think you’ll ever keep another fox, or will Gizmo be the only one?
I think I’ll always have a pet fox. They’re such challenging, interesting animals, and keeping Gizmo has been very rewarding. I’ll probably never buy another “cross” patterned one.
What would you say to someone thinking about keeping a fox as a pet?
Research, research, research! They’re not like dogs. Find out everything you possibly can about the species you want to bring home. My blog is a good place to start, but it shouldn’t be your only source of info. Buy books about foxes, learn the intimate details of their biology and behavior, join forums for fox owners, talk to vets, and make sure to check to make sure it’s legal. Check with your state laws, county laws, city laws, contact the health department, contact the police department, contact your department of natural resources or division of wildlife, and if possible get everything in writing.
Realize that owning a fox is not like owning a dog or a cat. In some ways, it’s like being grounded for 15 years. They are going to require a significant amount of your time and resources. You need to be willing to spend time with them, and you can’t allow them to have free run of your house while you’re out; you have to be able to supervise them. Otherwise it will end up being just another animal in a cage, and then what’s the point of having one? Foxes bond very strongly to their caretakers; if you have a fox, you can’t just pick up and go out of town for the weekend, or go on vacations. You have to be there for them, even if it means missing out on things.
And above all, before you bring one home, ask yourself if coming home with you is really what’s best for the fox.
Thanks, Ragtatter, for the interview, the photos, and The Pet Fox blog. And anybody who enjoyed this piece should check out our other Pet Week posts:
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