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The elemental strangeness of foxes

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Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#21

Post by doublerabbit »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #18
FridayoLeary wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew of someone who had pet foxes.

Yeah, apparently they can be domesticated relatively easily, at least one generation at a time. My understanding is that the process has to be repeated with their offspring, so they aren't truly a domesticated animal (yet). At least some sources say they make good pets... but probably not for people who already have house rabbits, I imagine.

Just because they could doesn't mean we should.

Foxes need a lot of space they are not a dog nor a cat. They can't cope and become over stressed to small places for one of the matters. Just as rabbit in cages.

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#22

Post by doublerabbit »

doublerabbit wrote: post #6

Foxes are amazing animals. The disrespect they get for being pests and vermin is wrong. We destroyed their habitat. And I disagree with the Russian fox domestic program. Hunting them for sport is wrong and unfair although I would turn my head if it was seasonal and usage of inhumane methods were banned. As much I would love to own a fox which is legal I couldn't bare taking something away from wild nature. We struggl…

I was up three and now I'm down to -1, what the hell.

If your downvoting me because I am against domestician, the Russian silver fox project is so very cruel. To the point they run fox mills and throw out the ones who have bad temperament. Not only that they are then sold on for fur profiteering.

If your downvoting me because of hunting: No animal should be hunted but at the same time The only way around that is to introduce seasons like deer.

I disagree with the downvotes I received and as someone who donates money to fox projects, willing to sab to stop hunting. Great animals but the are not pets!

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/famous-fox-domest...

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#23

Post by Tagbert »

senectus1 wrote: post #3
rcurry wrote: post #2

I’ve always liked foxes. I was an avid coyote hunter for years and used to call foxes in all the time. They’re hilarious because when they come smoking in for the kill and realize it’s a trap they try to act nonchalant and just veer off like “Oh, yeah, I wasn’t actually falling for that bro.” I had a big red Fox who lived in the woods next to my friend’s farm and he’d always come out at night when he heard me calling…

yeah they're nasty pieces of work sometimes as well. They slaughter wildly in chicken coop's. they often kill and eat just the tail and tongue of lambs in sheeping communities. but I can't help but love how sleek and beautiful they are, the noises they make and their playful natures.

It’s not like a coop is a natural prey situation. You have a large number of prey captive in a small space from which they can’t escape. Foxes don’t really have a natural behavioral pattern for this. I’m not surprised if they may overreact.

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#24

Post by foxes »

Relevant user name, I like foxes. Fennec and grey foxes in particular, but nothing wrong with the standard red fox. They have interesting personalities it seems. Unfortunate they have a bad reputation in farming, I do not think they are nasty or cruel, merely wild. Chicken coops and herd animals closed in a tight area is not natural.

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#25

Post by coolspot »

doublerabbit wrote: post #22
doublerabbit wrote: post #6

Foxes are amazing animals. The disrespect they get for being pests and vermin is wrong. We destroyed their habitat. And I disagree with the Russian fox domestic program. Hunting them for sport is wrong and unfair although I would turn my head if it was seasonal and usage of inhumane methods were banned. As much I would love to own a fox which is legal I couldn't bare taking something away from wild nature. We struggl…

I was up three and now I'm down to -1, what the hell. If your downvoting me because I am against domestician, the Russian silver fox project is so very cruel. To the point they run fox mills and throw out the ones who have bad temperament. Not only that they are then sold on for fur profiteering. If your downvoting me because of hunting: No animal should be hunted but at the same time The only way around that is to i…

Let downvotes do not discourage you. HN is about intellectual discussion, but ufortunately, sometimes, even very insightful comments can rub some people wrong way.

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#26

Post by SideburnsOfDoom »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #18
FridayoLeary wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew of someone who had pet foxes.

Yeah, apparently they can be domesticated relatively easily, at least one generation at a time. My understanding is that the process has to be repeated with their offspring, so they aren't truly a domesticated animal (yet). At least some sources say they make good pets... but probably not for people who already have house rabbits, I imagine.

> Yeah, apparently they can be domesticated relatively easily, at least one generation at a time.

That's by definition not domesticated but tame.

Wild: an animal in a state of nature

Tame: offspring of a wild animal (or a few generations removed), used to humans but but with mostly wild instincts.

Domesticated: The result of a human breeding program on tame animals, to produce animals with behaviours more compatible with people as pet or livestock.

Feral: An animal with domesticated habits, or a few generations removed, gone rogue. Often does not want humans near it due to not being around them in early childhood.

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#28

Post by Digit-Al »

MisterTea wrote: post #13
javajosh wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if it doesn't serve them in another way, namely to deny competitors (especially other foxes) a ready meal. It might also be so that they can eat one chicken in peace and not get poked by the others! But yes, like orcas clearly playing with living, in-pain seals, or any number of other phenomena, nature can be quite cruel.

I wonder if its simply a case of "eyes bigger than the stomach". The fox gets over excited with a coop full of chicken and goes overboard as there's so much food. Similar to buying too much food or snacks when shopping hungry.

Looks like that (sort of) plays a part.

https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/questions/answer/do-foxes-k...

Re: The elemental strangeness of foxes

#29

Post by dorchadas »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #18
FridayoLeary wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew of someone who had pet foxes.

Yeah, apparently they can be domesticated relatively easily, at least one generation at a time. My understanding is that the process has to be repeated with their offspring, so they aren't truly a domesticated animal (yet). At least some sources say they make good pets... but probably not for people who already have house rabbits, I imagine.

There are domestic foxes that have been bred over the past 50+ years in Russia as part of an experiment. Super interesting to read about, too bad they're not legal in my state as they're selling some to help raise funds to keep the program going.

Read this [0] back in 2018 about it. Super interesting, and I've been following them for a bit now.

[0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31374512-how-to-tame-a-f...

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