​Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our answers to some of the questions we receive about the captive-bred foxes and wildlife (click for shortcut):
Are your permanent resident foxes your pets?
I'm worried they'll attack us, and can you trap and relocate a fox?
Are the foxes that you post on social media your pets?
We post about both wild foxes who are wildlife rehabilitation intakes, and the captive-bred and/or non-releasable foxes who are permanent residents at our sanctuary.
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Our permanent residents are a part of our family. We don't just view them as assets at a facility that houses animals - we take pride in bonding with every individual. However, they require a much different level of care and respect than "pets" (ex: cat or dog), as well as another realm of legal requirements. As of 2024, we have close to 40 permanent residents between the foxes, wolfdogs, and raccoon. They are used to human contact and will remain in captivity for the remainder of their lives, as it would be both illegal and immoral to release them. Because they have to remain under human care forever, our goal is to form strong bonds with them, if possible, to make their stay as happy and comfortable as we can.
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The posts you see of the orphaned Red Fox kits who are wildlife rehabilitation intakes are raised very differently: we strongly limit and minimize human interaction with them, and the end goal is always to release them back into the wild. We treat them completely different than we do our permanent residents, as we want them to have a very healthy fear of humans prior to release.
What do foxes eat?
In the wild, foxes are omnivores. However, many people refer to them as "opportunistic carnivores". This means that they are primarily meat-eaters, but they will take the opportunity to eat whatever they can get. They catch small prey, and sometimes eat carcasses left behind by larger predators. They'll also eat insects, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. that they find along the way.
A fox's diet will vary depending on geographic location. Many Arctic Foxes, for example, will eat a large number of lemmings (a type of rodent). Years that lemming numbers are low, though, they may eat more eggs, fruits, berries, carrion, etc.
I'm worried a fox will attack my kids, cats, and small dogs...
It is extremely rare - in all of my years as a rehabber I have never witnessed a case - for a fox to view your infant, cat, or small dog as prey. Especially with humans: healthy foxes want to run from you, they don't want to attack you. They would "attack" only as a last resort - if you have them cornered, you are an unsafe distance and active threat to their kits (even in these cases some parent foxes may run instead of defend), etc. If a fox is denning by, for example, a shed in your backyard, simply enjoy watching the family grow, and stay a respectful distance away. If they know you aren't bothering them or their family, they won't want to bother you. They'll just be a great form of rodent control while they are there!
If you see a fox chasing your dog or cat in the spring, it is almost surely because they have a den nearby and are just trying to keep their babies safe and chase off what they view as a threat. Although this can be aggressive in nature and it IS possible for injury to occur, it is almost never because they're viewing a cat or dog as prey. Even though cats and dogs may be small, foxes can sense that they, too, are considered a predator-type animal. Plus, foxes generally don't want to put in the effort to go after prey that's over 2 lbs.
Still, it is safest practice to 1) never encourage your children to go near wildlife, and if you see a wild predator, keep a respectful distance, and 2) keep your small animals indoors when unsupervised, especially because there are many airborne (hawks, eagles, owls, etc.) and land predators who are a much bigger threat than a fox would be.
Can you just live-trap and relocate the fox I'm worried about?
Trapping and relocating foxes really isn't an ideal option, because 1) if they have a den, you'd be orphaning any kits that may be left behind, as it's extremely difficult to relocate an entire family, foxes tend to be monogamous for life, and 2) foxes are territorial creatures, so the minute you remove one from what they consider good territory, another one is just going to move in.
Additionally, there are often laws and regulations regarding trapping wildlife. We are not licensed trappers.
How do I become a Wildlife Rehabilitator?
Wildlife Rehabilitators are licensed by their state to legally be able to care for orphaned or injured wildlife, with the ultimate goal always being release back into the wild.
You can find out how to become a wildlife rehabber by visiting your state's wildlife conservation agency's website, or giving them a call. Each state may have different requirements to become licensed. For example, here are a few of the main requirements in our home state, New York:
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You must be at least 16 years old
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You must pass a test offered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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You must have an exit interview with a special licenses officer at your facility
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You must send in annual reports regarding your year's wildlife intakes
To be honest, in our opinion, the steps to becoming a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator are fairly simple. We always need more volunteer rehabbers, so if you love wildlife and want to help, you should totally look into it!
For more information on how to become a wildlife rehabber in New York State, click here.
Do foxes make good pets?
The easy answer to this question would be, "NO". Most foxes are destructive indoors (and must have supervision at all times indoors) and require an outdoor enclosure, cannot be fully potty-trained, they mark things they like, cannot be disciplined like a dog, lose trust easily, take it extremely hard if they have to be rehomed, go through hormonal, seasonal changes, may require special state and/or federal permits, may not like physical affection once they reach adulthood, have a very strong, natural odor, and more.
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They require an owner to fully understand what their physical and mental needs are, and someone who can invest a very large amount of time caring for and properly desensitizing them.
Many pet fox owners who keep foxes partially indoors will tell you that you must understand that your life now revolves around the fox: you cannot expect the fox to fit your lifestyle, you must fit its lifestyle - it is all-consuming. This lifestyle will last as long as your fox does, which can easily be 10+ years.
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The biggest issue with their rise in popularity in the exotic pet industry, is that people are under the false impression that foxes are "like dogs". They have some similar characteristics, because both are canines, however, they are very different: They listen when they want to, they are only affectionate when they want to be (which may be never - depending on what your fox's temperament turns out like after sexual maturity), they act instinctually and "wild" in situations where a dog may be trained to act otherwise (Ex: food aggression if they really like a treat, resorting to possible fear aggression if spooked, running away and not looking back or remembering where home is if they get loose), and more. At the end of the day, they're wild animals.
In the United States, foxes have yet to technically have become a "domesticated" pet, even though they're growing in popularity in the exotic pet industry. Most lines have been bred for coat color (through the fur farming industry), as opposed to domestication. We have read that there are a couple of reputable breeders in the U.S. who are striving towards this goal, but as of now, the only place where foxes have actually been bred solely for domestication - and the only place where we consider true "Domestic Foxes" to come from - is at an institute in Russia.
How Can I Treat a Fox Suffering From Sarcoptic Mange?
Mange is absolutely treatable! We have been using a different protocol for mange treatment at our rescue the last year, and are working on updating this part of our website for you. Stay tuned!
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