Black Foxes UK

Foxes in the News

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2024

 Genetic Patterns of World's Farmed, Domesticated Foxes Revealed via Historical Deep-Dive - Phys.Org, July 2024

"This study helps to answer questions researchers have asked for years about the geographic origin and genetic background of these fox populations," Kukekova said. "Furthermore, some farm foxes may have mixed with native foxes through release events over the years in different locations. Occasionally, unexpected gene signatures show up in native populations, so our study may help to explain where they're coming from."

World War II interrupted demand, and the industry never recovered in North America. In the USSR, however, fox farms quickly rebounded, aided by the government-supported fur industry.

Overall, the genetic pattern reflects the more stable history of breeding in Eurasia. Although all the farmed foxes in the study were found to originate from North American wild foxes, populations in Eurasia were more genetically diverse, with greater representation from Alaskan and western U.S. genotypes in addition to common genotypes from Eastern Canada.

"Some gene signatures were very rare and found only in certain Eurasian farm populations," Rando said. "The presence of these rare signatures, along with more diversity overall in Europe, could be due to more stable population sizes there after World War II, whereas those rare types may have been lost when North American farms collapsed."

The study also sheds light on the famous Russian Farm Fox experiment, started in 1959 at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (ICG) in Novosibirsk. The study originated with the selection of farm-bred foxes that showed the least avoidant behaviors around humans. Through successive generations, scientists selectively bred foxes with tame behaviors, eventually resulting in foxes as friendly as the family dog.

The current study sampled that population and analyzed it along with the others, finding no unique genetic origins for the Russian foxes. To Rando, this suggests that farm-bred foxes may have the same underlying capacity to develop friendly behaviors."

WDWF Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Rule To Protect Endangered Foxes - NCW Life, July 2024

"The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public comment on a rule-making proposal for a restriction on wildlife trapping to help protect endangered Cascade red foxes. The proposed rule, if adopted, would prohibit fox trapping within the exterior boundaries of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, Okanogan and Gifford Pinchot national forests beginning this year and extending into future trapping seasons.

“Fox trapping was closed in these locations last season due to an emergency rule the department filed in February,” said WDFW carnivore section manager Stephanie Landry. “If the current proposal is adopted, it would establish the same restrictions as a permanent rule.”

The endangered Cascade red fox, as well as other non-endangered red foxes, live within the areas outlined in the proposed rule. Since red fox species are often easy to mix up, the rule would restrict the trapping of all foxes within the forests listed in the proposal. “The Cascade red fox is indistinguishable from other red foxes except through genetic testing, so a trapping restriction for all foxes in the locations where these sub-species’ territories overlap helps protect the endangered foxes from accidental take,” said WDFW wildlife diversity division manager Hannah Anderson.

Public comment on the proposed rule is open through August 9. Comments can be submitted via web form, email, or by calling 855-925-2801 and using project code 7087. Commenters can also submit written comments via mail to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ATTN: Wildlife Program, PO Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504."

Cute, Capable Fox A Better Fit For WA Than Grizzlies - Seattle Times, May 2024

"Bureaucrats at the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have decided to translocate one of the largest terrestrial omnivores in North America — grizzly bears — to Washington. The hungry beasts are not only massive, but are fleet of foot, easily capable of outrunning Usain Bolt, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Yikes. The agency staff (probably mostly urbanites) intend to move 25 bears during a five-to-10-year period, picking them up from British Columbia and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and dropping them off in the North Cascades. One of the reasons is they were once native to the region.

However, so were Cascade red foxes. They once roamed throughout the North Cascades, but the population never recovered from fur trapping. Now rated endangered, they’d certainly be easier to transport once captured. Many residents, hikers and ranchers are also native. They are disconcerted by the prospect of apex predators roaming their territory, including on popular trails. Another specious reason for disrupting the grizzlies is their proclivity for distributing native plant seeds. But red foxes are generalists, quite capable of dispersing plant seeds themselves after chowing down on berries.

The “bearocrats” also insist that grizzlies will restore wildlife balance to the North Cascades. That’s rich. A few years ago they translocated over 300 perfectly content mountain goats from the Olympics to the Cascades. During Operation Let’s Mess with Olympic Mountain Goats, 22 died during capture, six couldn’t be relocated and were euthanized, four died in transit and eight couldn’t be captured and were lethally removed. Now they’re going to insert a peeved predator — that seems self-defeating.

Once again, generalist foxes to the ecological rescue: They could help address the concerns about wildlife balance that are pinging around the eco-chambers at federal agencies and they will control the rodent population. Another benefit of Cascade red foxes is they don’t hunt humans. Sure, someone/thing may have to guard the henhouse, but that’s a small price to pay if their translocation increases their genetic diversity. While brown bears don’t eat humans, they still kill about twice as many hominids as the North American black bear, mostly in protection of their cubs.

Even intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark were intimidated by grizzly bears, describing them as “turrible.” Grizzlies may not prefer humans in their diet, but, after escaping their transportation cage, I bet revenge upon the range is forthcoming. The bears they plan to translocate are healthy and thriving in an environment in which they have recovered. Let the bears bear witness to the flourishing Northern Continental Divide ecosystems.

If restoring native species, increasing seed dispersal and encouraging wildlife balance are important, then a cute and capable little Cascade red fox checks the boxes. I’d rather it surveil my wilderness tent for trail mix than an irate monster 90 times bigger. Grizzly populations only just recovered whence they came, now leave them alone. It might be preferable to translocate some of the bureaucrats — and have them clean up the trails. That ought to quicken their pulse."

Was An Extinct Fox Once Man's Best Friend? - BBC, April 2024

"Our ancestors may have kept foxes as pets long before domestic dogs came on the scene. Archaeological evidence suggests ancient human societies in South America revered foxes to such an extent that they were buried next to them. Scientists were surprised to find a fox buried in a human grave dating back 1,500 years in Patagonia, Argentina.

They think the most likely explanation is that the fox was a highly valued companion or pet.DNA analysis shows the animal dined with prehistoric hunter gatherers and was part of the inner circle of the camp.A fox of the same species was found in a much older grave in another part of Argentina nearly a decade ago. It may also have been a pet but its diet was not analysed.

"This is a very rare find of having this fox that appears to have had such a close bond with individuals from the hunter-gatherer society," said Dr Ophélie Lebrasseur of the University of Oxford. "I think it was more than just symbolic; I really do think it was companionship."

The fox was found at the burial site of Cañada Seca in Argentina, which was once inhabited by groups of hunter-gatherers. Teeth of wild foxes have been found in ancient human burial sites across Argentina and Peru, suggesting the animal had symbolic significance. But the discovery of a near-complete skeleton of a fox in a human grave is extremely rare in the worldwide archaeological record. The fox, which goes by the scientific name, Dusicyon avus, was of a medium size weighing 10-15 kg. It went extinct around 500 years ago, a few hundred years after domestic dogs arrived in Patagonia.

Protection Sought For Sierra Nevada Red Fox In Oregon, California Cascades - Centre For Biological Diversity, February 2024

"The Center for Biological Diversity today petitioned for federal protection of Sierra Nevada red foxes in the Oregon and California Cascades, from Lassen Peak to Mt. Hood. The petition asks that the fox be listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. “These precious mountain foxes need our help if they’re going to have any chance at survival in our rapidly warming world,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center. “The problems facing the Sierra Nevada red fox are complex and mounting, as they are for so many species in the mountains of western North America.”

In response to a previous Center petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protected a fox population near Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada as endangered. But in 2015 the Service denied the fox protection in the Cascades, citing lack of information. Since then, considerable research has shown that fox populations in Lassen, Crater Lake National Park, the Central Cascades and Mt. Hood are isolated, exceedingly small and facing multiple threats. The fox once ranged throughout high-elevation areas of the Cascades in forests and alpine meadows. But the species has been lost from large portions of its range, including Mt. Shasta. Poisoning as part of historic predator eradication efforts and trapping were primary drivers of the fox’s historic decline.

Today the fox is threatened by habitat loss caused by fires, logging, livestock grazing and development, increased recreation and climate change, which is pushing the fox’s habitat off the top of mountains. An additional threat is competition and predation from coyotes, which have proliferated in the Cascades in the absence of wolves. Coyotes are likely to move uphill as snowpacks recede with warming.

“The harms we’re doing to the natural world are accumulating and interacting in complex ways to the detriment of animals like the Sierra Nevada red fox,” said Greenwald. “Historic killing of predators, including wolves and the fox, have left the fox vulnerable to coyotes and risks inherent to small populations. And now, increased interest in outdoor recreation and global warming represent new and growing threats to the fox.”

The fox’s surviving populations are critically small. The population found in the Lassen area, for example, was recently estimated to contain fewer than 10 breeding adults. The other populations are not much bigger. These foxes are uniquely adapted to living in snowy, cold environments. Along with their small body size, they have a thick coat and fur-covered pads on their feet, allowing them to stay warm and travel over snow. They come in three color phases — a classic red phase, a black phase with silver tips to the fur, and a cross of the two. In all phases, they have a white-tipped tail and black markings on the back of the ears."

Rare Fox’s Nine-Day Escapade Enthralls Waldoboro and Beyond - Lincoln County News, February 2024

"Editor's Note: After this article was published in the Feb. 15 edition of The Lincoln County News, Maine wardens seized the silver fox and issued Danielle Katherina Brann a summons for unlawful possession of wildlife without a permit. More information, here. 

Today, Timber Bear the 9-month-old silver fox is safe at home, reclining on the plush carpet of his playroom and cuddling with his lifelong friend, a Maine Coon cat named Princess. But for a nine-day stretch between Friday, Feb. 2 and Sunday, Feb. 11, Timber Bear was on the lam, traversing a broad swath of northern Lincoln County and possibly leaving a genetic legacy among the area’s population of wild foxes.

Timber Bear’s owner, Danielle Katherina Brann, believes that the domesticated fox escaped his outdoor enclosure while she was at work on the night of Friday, Feb. 2. A friend had fed Timber his customary dinner of raw chicken drumsticks that night while Brann finished up a double shift, she said. When morning broke the next day, the fox was nowhere to be found.

While Brann traversed a widening radius, searching desperately for Timber, the friendly fox attracted attention across Waldoboro as he sporadically emerged from the woods to sprawl on the side of the road or approach residents outside their homes. Some who spotted Timber uploaded photos of what they believed was a wild fox with extremely rare coloring to social media. The location of the posts revealed that Timber was traveling quickly.

He was spotted on Friendship Road in south Waldoboro on Saturday morning, sitting placidly in the sunshine; later, another post placed him near Sammi’s Family Entertainment Center, closer to downtown. By the next weekend, Timber had traveled more than five miles to Nobleboro, where he was repeatedly spotted haunting the woods around the Nobleboro fire station. Brann, seeing these posts on Facebook, was consumed by both hope and worry. Timber was still alive – but he was proving evasive.

Brann’s worry was compounded by the fact that Maine’s fox hunting season runs until the end of February. She worried for Timber’s health, too; one photo uploaded to Facebook later in the week showed his snout bristling with a painful-looking cluster of porcupine quills.

By the second weekend that Timber was missing, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s warden service was involved in the search. Usually, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office assists with missing pets, said Animal Control Officer Allen Oliver in a phone call on Friday, Feb. 9. Timber, however, is considered “a wild animal, even though it’s domesticated,” bringing the case under the jurisdiction of the wardens, Oliver said..."

White Fox Settles Into New Home On Buckinghamshire Farm - Bucks Free Press, January 2024

"A STRIKING white fox saved from the fur trade has embraced his new life at a Buckinghamshire farm.

Jasper the white fox lives in Bucks Goat Centre in Stoke Mandeville and has grown in confidence since moving there a year ago. Initially doubtful of the food and environment, he has now embraced his new setting. Keeper Jenny Cooke said: "It's been amazing to see Jasper's progress, he is so much more confident, and now eats all the food he needs to stay healthy.

"At first it was really hard to get him to eat proper food, but he's overcome that and so much more too." Jasper's ancestors were saved from the fur trade and this winter he exhibits a striking fur coat and bushy tail. Ruth Higgins, who operates Bucks Goat Centre, said: "Sadly fur from foxes like Jasper is still used to line and trim expensive coats, but as you can see it looks far better on the fox.

"We have had so many comments from people visiting about how fluffy he is looking, and it's a good way to tell people about the fur trade, and give it some context with a real animal." Jenny Cooke plans to further bolster Jasper's confidence in 2024.She said: "This new year will be about getting him out for a walk on the lead, so he can experience even more of the farm."

2023

Foxy Bling-go! Bucks Goat Centre Resident Becomes An Influencer As Firms Line Up To Offer Him Treats - The Bucks Herald, November 2023

"A white fox who lives at the Bucks Goat Centre in Stoke Mandeville has become an unlikely influencer, with firms queuing up to offer him free treats due to his unusual look.
Jasper came to live at the attraction earlier this year, and initially struggled to eat a normal diet due to his previous life, where he lived in someone's home.

At the time keeper Adam Lofty found that Jasper really loved the Barking Bakery's Woofin selection, and used the treats to help coax the fox onto normal food.The story gained media attention, and since then other brands are keen to work with Jasper, offering him treats and toys in exchange for social media posts.

Ruth Higgins, owner of the Bucks Goat Centre, said: "It's been so funny but Jasper really has been a hit, both with visitors and brands who want to work with him."It's actually a really nice thing, as it helps to keep costs down at the farm, and Jasper absolutely loves getting his presents. If any more brands would like to get in touch with Jasper please do, it's been such a fun thing."

Jasper is an all white fox, and his ancestors were rescued from the fur trade. He lives at the Goat Centre in a specially built enclosure where visitors can learn about the plight of fur trade foxes, and see the beautiful animal up close."

The First Dog-fox Hybrid Points To The Growing Risk To Wild Animals Of Domestic Species - Phys.Org, September 2023

"Next time you see a fox when out walking with your dog, pause for a moment and ponder their relatedness. Dogs and foxes are distinct but distantly related canine species. Until recently, scientists thought it was impossible for them to breed. However, the discovery of a dog-fox hybrid in Brazil suggests that "The Fox and the Hound" might sometimes be a little more "Lady and the Tramp."

The recent identification of the dog-fox hybrid known as a "dogxim" (a cross between dog and graxaim-do-campo, the Portuguese name for pampas fox) in Brazil also raises concerns about the impact that our pet dogs might have on wild animal populations and their survival.

This female, dog-like creature was first noticed when she was she was hit by a car and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. The staff at the wildlife center noticed she had a strange mix of physical and behavioral characteristics. Her pricked ears and preference for eating small mammals seemed fox-like, but her barking was more reminiscent of a dog. Throughout the centuries there have been unverified reports of fox-dog hybrids, but none have been confirmed before with genetic testing.

Genetic testing revealed that she was a hybrid between a female pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and a male domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). This is the first documented case of a dog-fox hybrid. Genetic analysis revealed she had a total of 76 chromosomes, compared to the 78 chromosomes of the domestic dog and 74 of the pampas fox."

* More on our assessment of the situation, here. 

Pictured: Rare Black Baby Fox Caught Playing With Red Rival - Daily Mail, September 2023

"A rare black baby fox has been captured chasing and playing with a red cub on San Juan Island, Washington.."

I've Solved The Mystery Of Britain's Big Cat Sightings! Animal Expert Says There Are Strange Animals Roaming The Countryside...They're Not Pumas - Daily Mail, September 2023

"An animal expert claims big cats spotted prowling Britain's moors are actually Black Foxes - with as many as 400 roaming the countryside. Former zookeeper Hayley de Ronde - founder of Black Foxes UK - says that the cat-like behaviour of the canine could hold the key to sightings across the country. The number of the rare melanistic foxes is growing in the UK as they breed with regular red foxes.

She believes these are responsible for an accelerating number of black wild cats being reported. The wildlife expert said: 'People didn't know about them originally and over the years I think a lot of those experts might not have made the same assessment and they might have accurately IDed a melanistic or silver fox."

Anti-worm Drug Used By Farmers On Livestock Detected In Scottish Red Foxes, Vulpes Vulpes - European Union, September 2023

"Contamination of the environment by veterinary medicines is a concern because of its impact on wild animals and because of the possible development of drug-resistant parasites. At present there is a lack of information on the residues of veterinary drugs in wildlife, as only birds of prey are used to monitor levels of environmental contamination.

Wildlife found dead in the UK are usually collected and examined for sources of poisoning, such as pesticides. Birds of prey, due to their position in the food chain and conservation importance, are frequently the subject of these examinations. However, collecting poisoned animals introduces a significant sampling bias, and the true extent of a toxic pollutant in the environment may not be known. Additional monitoring of species that are abundant in the environment, sampled using a less biased approach, could provide useful additional information about environmental chemical exposure.

The researchers of this study chose to focus on foxes as the sentinel species for monitoring veterinary drug residues, as they are culled for pest control, making carcasses readily available. In addition, the researchers suggest that the varied diet of the European red fox, a top predator occupying a diverse range of habitats, exposes them to many toxic substances.

Environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals, including veterinary medicines, is an emerging global threat, which is being considered as a policy issue under the UN’s Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management (SAICM). The European Commission also views the pollution of waters and soils with pharmaceutical residues as an emerging environmental problem, and endorses a ‘One Health’ strategy to address global health challenges, acknowledging the deep interconnectedness of animal, environmental and human health.

Monitoring wildlife for environmental veterinary medicine residues enables contamination routes to be investigated to mitigate impacts and reduce the risk of parasites developing drug resistance."

Urban Foxes Bolder But Not Smarter Than Rural Ones, Study Suggests - BBC, August 2023

"Urban foxes may be bolder than their rural relatives but they are not smarter, according to researchers. University of Hull scientists set puzzles for dozens of the animals as part of a two-year study into wild foxes in England and Scotland. The foxes were challenged to carry out simple tasks to access food.

Blake Morton, who led the research, said while city foxes were more likely to go up to the puzzles and touch them they were just as bad at solving them. The team, which involved academics from the Universities of Lincoln and Glasgow, and Atlanta Zoo, left them tasks to do for rewards in parks, back gardens and woods.

The puzzles, which were left in 104 locations, included simple mechanisms that the foxes needed to lift, pull or rotate a lid or lever to access the food."

Uttarakhand Govt To Launch 'operation Red Fox' To Curb Wild Boars Menace - ETV Bharat National, August 2023

"Farmers are not able to get respite from wild animals though the Uttarakhand government was taking measures to curb the menace. Although many wild animals are damaging the farmers' crops in the region, the biggest problem for the farmers in the mountain areas are monkeys and wild boars.

Though the Uttarakhand Forest Department has launched a drive to curb the monkeys' menace, however, the government seems helpless against the wild boars. In the past, in view of the terror of wild boars, permission to kill them was also taken from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment, but this experiment of the State on the hills was not successful. So, now the Forest Department is planning to launch 'Operation Red Fox' as part of the new plan.

Decision taken to kill wild boars: Farmers are incurring huge losses due to monkeys and wild boars in Uttarakhand. The State government has worked to enforce the ban on monkeys and this is the reason that during the 2015 census of monkeys, their number was close to 1 lakh 49,000. At the same time, during the census of monkeys in 2021, their number decreased by about 39,000 and now their number is 1.10 lakhs. A decision was taken to allow the killing of wild boars to control their number, but this did not help much.

'Operation Red Fox'

The plan is to increase the number of extinct red foxes in the state under 'Operation Red Fox'. Foxes prey on the young wild boars. The red fox is very important to control the number of wild boars. A sudden increase in the number of wild boars in the region is also claimed to be due to the extinction of the red fox.

Red Fox is important to control the number of wild boars: Uttarakhand Minister for Forest Subodh Uniyal says that the Forest Department is going to start 'Operation Red Fox' to relieve farmers of wild boars. Under this programme, work will be done to increase the number of endangered foxes so that the number of wild boars can be controlled. Not only in Uttarakhand, but also in Himachal and all the Himalayan states, the menace of wild boars is visible to the farmers. The red fox found in the Himalayan region has been considered very important for controlling the wild boars' population, but with time the red fox is becoming extinct and its presence is very less during the installation of camera traps in many places.

What is the status of Red Foxes?

In the 2005 census, the number of wild boars was found to be 32,613. In 2008, their number increased to 34,914. After that, there was no enumeration, but now the number of wild boars is more than 50,000. Every year around 200 to 300 square kilometres of crops are destroyed by wild boars. About one to one and a half crore worth of crops are lost due to wild boars. The red fox, which was previously found in good numbers in the mountains, is now extinct. There is a huge demand for red fox fur and it is also on the verge of extinction due to poaching. The red fox is found in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan

People are fed up with wild animals: Under Operation Red Fox, it is believed that the forest department can set up breeding centres for red foxes at various places. These centres may also try to increase the number of foxes and decide on a programme to protect them. Currently, the entire plan has been deliberated in the recent meeting of the State Wildlife Board and a framework is being prepared for it.

The Migration Commission in Uttarakhand, in its report on the reasons behind the migration from across the state, had made it clear that 5.61% of the total migration in the state so far is due to wild animals. There are three species of red fox. These include Tibetan Red Fox, Desert Fox and Kashmiri Red Fox.

The time limit to kill wild boars to be extended: The Uttarakhand Forest Department has also spoken to the officials of the Wildlife Institute of India about this. During this conversation with WII officers, the framework for proceeding with Operation Red Fox and the studies so far were also discussed. Overall, the Uttarakhand Forest Department in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India is going to take this mission forward. On the other hand, there is also a plan to increase the time limit of the permits for killing wild boars from 15 days to six months for the forest department, and for this, they will now try to get permission from the Centre as well."

Humans Urged To Stay Away From San Juan’s Red Foxes - Salish Current, August 2023

"Advocates for keeping distance between people and foxes say years of food handouts and other interaction with humans are to blame. And they say the cost has been high. Brad Pillow, a volunteer naturalist at San Juan Island National Historical Park and an advocate for keeping distance between humans and wildlife, said foxes have been struck by cars in the Cattle Point area while crossing the road to get to a house where they have been regularly fed.

Amateur photographers have crowded fox dens, and kits have been killed by eagles as their families move them in search of more isolated den sites, Pillow said. Excursion companies have emerged to accommodate the growing interest in the island’s foxes, charging as much as $2,000 per person for photo safaris on the lands where foxes dwell.

“You have photographers who’ve invested a lot of money and this is an easy place to go get fox photographs, which to me is kind of funny because everybody knows it’s not a native fox when you see the pictures,” Green said. “They get competitive out there and some of them can be aggressive, like ‘That’s my fox.’ It’s getting kind of crazy.” It is against federal law to disturb or feed wildlife on national park land, but San Juan Island National Historical Park has no resources to enforce the law. Elexis Fredy, superintendent of the island’s national park, said she hoped DNA tests might reveal that the island’s foxes are related to the Cascade red fox, which the state Department of Fish and Wildlife listed as an endangered species in 2022. That could make resources available for enforcement, she said...

Fredy would like to see a law in the San Juan County code that mirrors federal law regarding disturbing or feeding wildlife on public lands. There is no such law in the county code. If there were, the county sheriff would have the authority to enforce it, because the county sheriff has concurrent jurisdiction to enforce county code violations on national park and BLM lands. Park staff do not have law enforcement authority. Such a law would make it a misdemeanor offense to approach within 75 feet of wildlife on public lands; create a barrier that constrains animal movement; feed, bait or use devices to call wildlife; and stand near or on top of an animal den.

Pillow and Fredy say the foxes, regardless of origin and lineage, are still wild animals worthy of protection from human interference. A pair of rabbits can produce 180 rabbits over the course of 18 months, as illustrated in a chart developed by Wheat Belt Natural Resource Development of Australia. “Regardless of how they got here, they’re here,” Fredy said. “They’re wild animals, they’re a species we’re trying to protect, and that’s the mission of our agency.”

“We’re not a wilderness that has been untouched by man,” she said. “The landscape we’ve inherited has been tended since the Coast Salish peoples occupied and tended these lands. The species that are here – ourselves included – have benefitted from that landscape and have as much right to be here as any other species on the island.” Green believes people should keep their distance from wildlife. Don’t feed them. Leave them be. Let nature take its course. Ironically, the island’s foxes and rabbits are examples of the tangled web humans weave when they mess with mature..."

Wildwood Zoo Announces Sudden Death Of Willow After Routine Surgery, One Focus, August 2023

"Wildwood Zoo has announced that Willow, the female red fox who was brought in after the passing of senior arctic fox Blizzard, has now passed away following a routine surgery.

She was a one-year-old marble morph fox and was initially kept as a pet and transferred to Wildwood Zoo when her living situation needed to be adjusted.

In a Facebook post, the zoo states that Willow went in for a routine spay appointment and had a few complications during surgery, including a possible cancerous cyst that was removed. She seemed to be recovering well, but both her respiration and temperature plummeted suddenly and she was unable to be stabilized. Willow had only been at the zoo since April."  

More reports on the zoo and their foxes, here and here. 

*A similar such situation occurred when Dottie was spayed by Black Foxes UK. We advise all keepers and vets spaying silver foxes to ensure it is 12 week after their season that occurs some time from February - March. 

Wingspan Designer’s Next Board Game Is About Domesticated Foxes - Dice Breaker, August 2023

"An upcoming board game, The Fox Experiment sees players attempting to domesticate foxes in a tabletop title inspired by real-life events. The board game is based on the Belyaev-Trut Experiment that took place in Novosibirsk, Siberia, wherein a group of scientists began to try and domesticate wild foxes by having them interact with humans, before selecting those that responded more positively for breeding.

With each new generation of foxes, the scientists then selected the most domesticated pups for future breeding, with the goal of eventually breeding foxes that could be introduced into people homes in the same way dogs, cats and other domesticated animals were."

Aylesbury Animal Centre Looks After Rare Silver Fox Rescued From Fur Trade - The Bucks Free Press, July 2023

"A rare silver fox that was rescued from the fur trade has found a new home in Buckinghamshire. Jasper, along with the rest of his family, would have been killed with his shiny coat being used for jackets and other garments. Now, the animal resides at the Bucks Goat Centre in Stoke Mandeville, where visitors can pay to see the rare creature in the flesh.

Jasper, along with the rest of his family, would have been killed with his shiny coat being used for jackets and other garments. How, the animal resides at the Bucks Goat Centre in Stoke Mandeville, where visitors can pay to see the rare creature in the flesh. It has been a long road for Jasper, who was described as ‘subdued’ when he first arrived in Buckinghamshire.

However, after being given some dog treats along with some TLC, the creature is now doing well at his new home. His keeper, Adam Lofty, 19, said: "Jasper is doing really well, and is in the right environment for a fox at last, we can't wait to see him blossom even more."

“We saw the dog muffins, and thought it was worth a try, they were mini-sized and designed for dogs so decided to give it a go. "When we got back to the farm we couldn't believe how much Jasper loved them, and they have helped so much in gaining his trust.

"Because he knows that a muffin is coming he is also eating his healthy diet of chicks, quail and rats as well, it's been a wonderful change in him and I feel like he is enjoying his life now. "He is still making progress, but he's now accepting it when I stroke him, he's gone from withdrawn to settling in really well. “Who would have thought that such a small thing could make such a big difference."

Study Provides Foundation For Protecting Rare Fox In Cascades, Sierra Nevada - Phys.org, May 2023

"Conservation efforts for the rare Sierra Nevada red fox can be strengthened through new computer modeling based on a 12-year data gathering partnership led by scientists at Oregon State University's Institute for Natural Resources, says a researcher who helped direct the project.The endangered fox lives at high elevation in California's Sierra Nevada and Oregon's Cascade Range. Its numbers have been falling for two centuries largely because of human activity including trapping and poisoning, and a warming climate may be making the problem worse, OSU wildlife ecologist Sean Matthews said.

"Low genetic diversity from inbreeding, hybridization with non-native red foxes, and influences of climate change threaten the persistence of the subspecies across its range," said Matthews, who co-led the study published in the Journal of Mammalogy. "Our results provide a demonstration for studying elusive species with limited survey data, a guide for future survey efforts and a baseline to inform conservation and management action."

Researchers including scientists at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the University of California, Davis, and Yosemite National Park modeled the potential distribution and abundance of the Sierra Nevada red fox throughout its historical and contemporary ranges. Sierra Nevada red foxes, known scientifically as Vulpes vulpes necator, live in a mix of habitats above and below timberline, Matthews said, including meadows, mature forests, talus slopes and fell fields—rock-strewn open areas higher than the tree line.

"The Sierra Nevada red fox experienced large population declines over the last 100 years," he said. "There are historical records of red foxes around Mount Shasta and in the Klamath Mountains, areas now devoid of red foxes. Our limited understanding of the fox's ecology has hindered the development of informed conservation actions."

The study team, which also included scientists at the U.S. Forest Service, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and the Cascades Carnivore Project, was able to estimate the distribution and population sizes of Sierra Nevada red foxes by using data collected via remotely triggered cameras and other survey tools. The survey period was 2009 through 2020. The modeling approach predicted fox density based on the relationship between detection frequencies and environmental characteristics, allowing for the model to project those densities onto unsampled areas with similar land and vegetation features.

"That's important because it's not really possible to sample every individual remote area the Sierra Nevada red fox might be living," Matthews said."

Rare Black Fox Rescued In Barry After Two-week Search - BBC, April 2023

"A rare black fox which has been roaming the streets of a Vale of Glamorgan town for two weeks has been rescued. Black Foxes UK began receiving numerous reports of an abandoned "silver fox" in Barry on 8 April but were unable to locate its owner.

Also known as silver foxes, they are not native to the wild in the UK, but domesticated and kept as exotic pets. The fox was safely captured on 24 April and has been found a home at a secure facility... Black Foxes UK sought help from the local authority animal warden and local cat rescue, Shua Trust Home and Sanctuary who helped with the rescue.

The fox, which is male and appears to be about two years old, has been named Shadow. He was taken to Vets4Pets for treatment as there were reports of the fox having a leg injury, but he was found to be in fine health. Shadow is very confident around people and was clearly well-socialised prior to his escape, said Black Foxes UK. It said there may still be an injured fox on the loose and asked the public to stay alert"

Barry: Rare Black Fox Spotted Roaming The Streets - BBC, April 2023

"A rare black fox has been seen roaming towns in a Welsh county, with locals urged to help catch it. Also known as silver foxes, they are not native to the wild in the UK, but domesticated and kept as exotic pets. People in Barry and Sully in Vale of Glamorgan have seen what appears to be one of them.

RSPCA Cymru said even the most experienced fox experts have had difficulty keeping adult foxes and does not advise it. In North America, about 10% of foxes are black, with the rest a mixture of colours, such as red. Some people will breed only black litters to make totally black foxes, and there are currently no restrictions in the UK on breeding or owning them.

Lorraine Moores spotted the fox on The Spinney Park, in Sully, on Sunday morning. "I came outside with the dog, and this fox was sat there between my cabin and the caravan next door," she said. "I presumed it had been there all night." What is believed to be the same fox has also been spotted in Barry.

Hayley de Ronde, from the organisations Black Foxes UK, said managing the animals was "difficult".She said because black foxes are domesticated animals, the local animal warden and council are not responsible for the capture of it. But between herself, a local cat rescue centre and Vale of Glamorgan council's animal warden, she said there is a plan in place to capture it. "We hope to try and set a humane trap," she said. "We have a temporary holding home lined up for it once it is caught."

Ms De Ronde advised members of the public not to chase the fox if they see it, as it is likely to be "quite stressed"."

Outfoxing The Wild: How Russian Domesticated Foxes Could Save Lives - KPBS, April 2023

"For generations, their fur was worn on collars and coats and they were portrayed as sly, conniving, wily characters in popular culture. But David and Amy Bassett want to change the perception of foxes. They want to show the world that foxes, although mischievous, have so much more to offer, including their potentially life-saving skills.

The Bassetts own and run the Judith A. Bassett Canid Education and Conservation Center in Santa Ysabel. They care for orphaned coyotes, New Guinea singing dogs, arctic and fur-farm fox rescues, a gray wolf and 14 Russian domesticated foxes. Together with dog trainer Anita Cheesman, they are training Russian domesticated foxes to detect scents inside plastic boxes. With each positive detection, they are rewarded with a morsel of cheese. And the foxes are on the nose almost every time.

The Bassetts believe that this kind of nosework could be groundbreaking in natural disaster search and rescue efforts.The Bassetts brought the first of the Russian domesticated foxes to their conservation center 10 years ago. “And at that point, no one had ever brought one to the United States because they're in Russia,” said David Bassett. “Not only Russia, but Siberia Russia.“

Bassett said he was curious about their breeding. “Were they really domesticated? Was it just a scam? Was it a gimmick? Either way, we knew we were going to give them a much better home than they would have had if they were left at the institute in Russia,“ he said..."

Historic Fur Trader “The Bay” Goes Fur-Free! - Animal Justice, March 2023

"Canada’s oldest retailer, Hudson’s Bay Company, also known as The Bay, is no longer selling products made with real fur, according to PETA.

The Hudson’s Bay Company was founded in 1670, and was once the largest fur trader in North America. The Bay had a major hand in the British effort to colonize North America, acting to supply the European demand for fur—especially fur from wild beavers, who were killed and skinned to make felt hats.

The Bay is one of dozens of retailers and designers that have gone fur-free in recent years, including Saks Fifth Avenue (which is also owned by The Bay), Canada Goose, Nordstrom, Versace, Michael Kors, and Gucci."

2022

Fox Urine Compound As Good As Catnip For Some Felines - Chemistry World, September 2022

"It’s not only catnip, specifically its active ingredient nepetalactone, that can send felines into a state of blissful happiness, but also a structurally unrelated compound found in fox excretions.

Domestic cats, as well as leopards, cougars and lynxes, respond to catnip by rolling around on the floor, licking, dribbling and generally acting like they’re drugged. But despite being dubbed ‘kitty crack’, felines on nepetalactone don’t experience any withdrawal symptoms or other negative side effects. The catnip response is down to genetic factors – only about two-thirds of cats are sensitive to nepetalactone. For those that are impervious to catnip, there are alternatives in the form of silver vine, valerian or Tatarian honeysuckle.

A team of researchers in the US has now tested how cats respond to different plants, as well as to individual compounds. In their exposure studies on six cats, which ran over two years, most cats responded to compounds that are structurally similar to nepetalactone such as iridomyrmecin. But to the scientists’ surprise, the feline test subjects also enjoyed dihydroactinidiolide, a furanone that bears little structural resemblance to nepetalactone. In contrast, the cats didn’t respond to menthol or methyl salicylate, two of the odour compounds in peppermint, nor to civetone, a macrocyclic ketone that attracts some big cats.

Dihydroactinidiolide is one of the compounds in silver vine. It is also found in the urine and scent gland excretions of the red fox – the first time a compound produced by a mammal has been reported to elicit a ‘catnip response’."

State Wildlife Officials Consider Adding Cascade Red Fox To Threatened Species List - KNKX, July 2022

"There’s an elusive fox, unique to Washington state, that lives high in the Cascade Mountains. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is considering putting that fox, known as the Cascade red fox, on the state’s threatened species list.

The subspecies' high elevation habitat makes the Cascade red fox hard to study. Fish and Wildlife has successfully caught glimpses of them in their natural habitat using cameras, but now the agency is worried about them. The department used to sight them up and down the Cascade Range, from as far north as the British Columbia border, to as far south as Mount Rainier.

Taylor Cotten, a conservation assessment section manager for Fish and Wildlife, analyzes population numbers for the department. He said sightings have disappeared in many of the regions they used to roam. Fish and Wildlife estimates there are only around 16 Cascade red foxes actively breeding.

“Even without knowing what our historic number of foxes were, we can see that, you know, maybe 30% to 50% of the range is currently occupied compared to what it used to be historically,” he said. “And that's a significant concern.”

Today, the fox can be seen near Mount Rainier, where tourists and hikers occasionally cross paths with the fox. That brings its own set of problems. The Cascade red fox looks magical; its fur ranges from red, silver, to black, and they have big, pointy ears and intense round eyes. Their adorable looks could be why humans feel inclined to coax them with food. “Feeding wildlife is never a good idea at all,” Cotten said. “It creates a dependency on the public for food.”

Sharing food can also infect foxes with diseases. Climate change is also impacting the fox as the lack of snowpack forces them to head toward areas where they face more competition for food with other animals like coyotes. Cotten said that because the population is so small and the available mates are few, the small genetic pool also poses threats to the species, such as breeding with other kinds of foxes. Hybridization has the potential to erase the species.The department will decide whether to place the Cascade red fox on the threatened list in September. Its addition to the list would bring renewed attention and possible funds to monitor and rehabilitate the population.

“This is a species that's part of the Washington landscape and part of the ecosystem that you don't find anywhere else,” Cotten said. “That's an important thing for us to prioritize and focus on and try to understand how we can recover and conserve these animals.”

Are You Going To Eat That? Study Reveals Dog Feces Are Significant Part Of Foxes' Diet - Phys.org, July 2022

"A study that analyzed the diet of red foxes in the Scottish Highlands has found that dog feces are a significant part of their diet, the first time that such a connection has been detected anywhere in the world. The study, a collaboration between scientists at the University of Aberdeen's School of Biological Sciences, the Laboratory of Alpine Ecology at University of Grenoble Alps, Forestry and Land Scotland and Cairngorms Connect, alters our understanding of how the behavior of foxes living in the pine forests of the Cairngorms are affected by visits from people and their pets.

Researchers found that dog feces have a calorific content on par with the foxes' wild prey but are far easier to "hunt" and are consumed especially when wild prey is naturally scarce. The study had initially set out to characterize the diet of foxes and pine martens to better understand how these two predators coexist despite very similar eating habits and their impacts on prey.

Using a technique known as metabarcoding—which is based on DNA-based identification and rapid DNA sequencing—they found that domestic dog DNA was the second most frequent species in fox stool samples (nearly 40%), while being virtually absent in pine marten samples. Several hypotheses were considered as to why this was the case, including a possible confusion between fox and dog DNA since the two are closely related species, however researchers concluded that dog feces have become an important food source for foxes to fall back on in times of scarcity.

Cristian Navarro, a Ph.D. student from the University of Aberdeen's School of Biological Sciences, co-authored the study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution with Professor Xavier Lambin, Dr. Catherine Hambly, Kenny Kortland, Dr. Eric Coissac and Dr. Pierre Taberlet.

Cristian said, "The fact that foxes consume dog feces in the amounts we have found is unprecedented. Rabbits and other related species are well-known to consume their own feces but consumption of the feces of another species has seldom been documented and likely represents an overlooked interaction among wild animals.

"This phenomenon would be undetectable through traditional diet study methods, but by using DNA-based techniques our study has revealed this interaction for the first time, leading to important questions about how human activities are affecting wildlife."

Professor Lambin added, "Just like how bird feeders in gardens benefit some species of birds while others are displaced, dog feces may benefit foxes over their competitors or prey species. "In addition, the availability of dog feces and their consumption by wild animals creates risks of disease and parasite transmission, and of introducing new pathogens."This highlights the need for a holistic management approach, including the need for measures to help ensure the appropriate use of outdoor spaces by dog walkers, given the potential impacts."

Where Fox News Is Hard to Come By - Smithsonian Magazine, July 2022

"A rare red fox is clinging to life in Washington State, up in the Cascade Mountains. It’s smaller than its lowland cousins, its feet are furrier, and it primarily eats pocket gophers. Researchers believe this alpine subspecies split from common red foxes during a past ice age and has remained genetically distinct because of its geographic isolation.

“A fox that’s down around Seattle and a Cascade red fox up on Mount Rainier were separated by almost half a million years of evolution,” says Jocelyn Akins, a biologist and the founder of the Cascades Carnivore Project. The nonprofit research group is grappling with a key question: How many of the foxes are left? “When a species is really rare, it’s very helpful to count them, but also extremely difficult,” Akins says. In the southern Cascades, the subspecies’ only known habitat, researchers estimate there are effectively fewer than 20 breeding foxes.

One unusual source of information about the animal is social media. Researchers study photos of Cascade foxes posted by visitors to Mount Rainier National Park. Another source is traditional knowledge. A member of the Skokomish Indian Nation named Alisa Smith Woodruff, or Yiiaylica in the Indigenous language, has scoured Northwest tribes’ storywork—fictional tales informed by fact—for references to the Cascade fox. In one story, a fox is outsmarted by a flock of snipe that would have otherwise become lunch. Pinpointing such tales can yield clues to the animal’s past whereabouts.

As far as researchers can tell, the Cascade fox’s current range may be half of what it once was. Climate change, competing species and park visitors who interact with the foxes have all factored into the declining numbers.

In June, state officials were set to designate the Cascade fox as threatened, a classification that requires the government to fund conservation measures in the peaks the animals call home. “My hope is that there will be new interest, and with it financial support, to understand what threatens” the Cascade fox, says Akins. Then officials, advocates and even Instagram-loving humans can better protect the distinctive animal and its habitat."

Rare Black Fox Spotted In Halifax Garden - Have You Seen The Mysterious Creature? - Halifax Courier, January 2022

"A rare black fox has been spotted in Halifax. Margaret and David Newsome shared some pictures of a black fox taken in their garden in Wheatley. The mysterious creature was spotted snooping around after the couple put a wildlife camera in the garden. "We put the camera out the night before last and caught a glimpse," said Margaret. "Then we set it up again last night and that's when we got the pictures.

"I've never seen one before and was really excited." David added: "We get a lot of foxes and badgers. To see a black fox is the crowning glory." The fox is considered to be one of Britain’s rarest animals, as it gets its dark colouring from a super-rare genetic defect and has only been spotted a few times in recent history. According to campaign group Black Foxes UK, they make up less than 0.1 per cent of the fox population here."

2021

Sierra Nevada Red Fox Wins Protection As Endangered Species - Guardian, August 2021

"The slender, bushy-tailed Sierra Nevada red fox will be listed as an endangered species, federal wildlife officials announced, saying its population has dipped to just 40 animals in an area of California stretching from Lake Tahoe to south of Yosemite national park. The US Fish and Wildlife Service decided against listing a distinct population of the foxes in the southern Cascade Range of Oregon and near Lassen Peak in northern California. But it said in a listing rule to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday that the Sierra Nevada segment south of Tahoe “is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range”.

“While the exact number remains unknown and is also subject to change with new births and deaths, it is well below population levels that would provide resiliency, redundancy and representation to the population.”

The agency provided no estimate of the number of red foxes remaining in the Cascade Range. One of the rarest mammals in North America, the red foxes in the Sierra are vulnerable to threats of wildfire, drought, competition in coyotes, reductions in prey and inbreeding with non-native foxes. The foxes are also threatened by climate change, as scientists project continuing loss of snowpack and of the subalpine habitat to which the Sierra Nevada population segment has adapted, the agency said. Degraded and reduced habitat will likely lead to increased numbers of coyotes in high-elevation areas and to increased competition between coyotes and Sierra Nevada foxes for prey, the service said.

Some biologists believed 20 years ago the Sierra Nevada population had gone extinct, until a small remnant population was confirmed in 2010. California banned red fox trapping in 1974. The Center for Biological Diversity first petitioned for federal protection in 2011 and filed lawsuits in 2013 and 2019 before the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the species for addition to the endangered list in 2020.

The Sierra Nevada red fox has declined dramatically because of poisoning and trapping, habitat destruction from logging and livestock grazing and disturbance from off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate for the center. He said the animals face the same threats in the Cascade Mountains to Mount Hood, Oregon.

“This is an important step, but the Fish and Wildlife Service should also protect these imperiled animals in the Cascades,” he said Monday. The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of 10 North American subspecies of the red fox. The small, doglike carnivores measure about 3.5ft (1.1 meters) long and have elongated snouts, pointed ears and large tails.With deep winter coats and small toe pads, they are specially equipped to adapt to cold, snowy areas. They feed on small mammals. The Fish and Wildlife Service noted it is not proposing designation of critical habitat for the species at this time because habitat “does not appear to be a limiting factor for the species.”

The agency estimates the 18 to 39 animals remaining in the Sierra extend south of California state highway 88 from just south of Lake Tahoe into the easternmost portion of Yosemite park in Tuolumne and Madera counties, as well as portions of Alpine, Mono, Fresno and Inyo counties. Most of the foxes – between 10 and 31 – are known to occupy an area north of Yosemite. About five have been spotted just east of Yosemite, and three have been identified south of Yosemite, in the general area of Mono Creek. All sightings have been on federal land.

An Immense Mystery Older Than Stonehenge - BBC, August 2021

"Rather than a centuries-long building project inspiring the transition to farming, Clare and others now think Gobekli Tepe was an attempt by hunter-gatherers clinging to their vanishing lifestyle as the world changed around them. Evidence from the surrounding region shows people at other sites were experimenting with domesticated animals and plants – a trend the people of "Belly Hill" might have been resisting.

Clare argues the site's stone carvings are an important clue. Elaborate carvings of foxes, leopards, serpents and vultures covering Gobekli Tepe's pillars and walls "aren't animals you see every day," he said. "They're more than just pictures, they're narratives, which are very important in keeping groups together and creating a shared identity."

New Wrinkle In Tale Of Wolf-to-dog Evolution - The Harvard Gazette, June 2021

"By analyzing MRI scans of the foxes, Hecht and her colleagues showed that both the foxes bred to be tame and those bred to be aggressive have larger brains and more gray matter than those of the control group. These findings run contrary to other studies on chickens, sheep, cats, dogs, horses, and other animals that have shown domesticated species have smaller brains, with less gray matter, than their wild forebears. 

Hecht and her team of researchers from Harvard, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Emory University, Cornell University, and the Russian Institute of Cytology and Genetics say they can’t be sure why this happens without further study. Their leading hypothesis centers on how the tame and aggressive strains have both been bred for specific behaviors at an accelerated time frame compared with many other domesticated animals. Dogs, for example, have been domesticated for at least 15,000 years.

“Both the tame and aggressive strains have been subject to intense, sustained selection on behavior, while the conventional strain undergoes no such intentional selection,” they wrote. “Thus, it is possible that fast evolution of behavior, at least initially, may generally proceed via increases in gray matter.”"

Nassau County Wildlife Sanctuary Names New Foxes After Fallen Deputy, Wounded K-9 - News 4 Jax, September 2021

"A wildlife sanctuary in Hilliard has found a special way to honor a fallen deputy, a wounded K-9 and the Nassau County sheriff.The Ark Wildlife Care and Sanctuary recently received three new foxes to its wildlife rescue location, and the animals can’t be released. They will be kept in the facility’s educational area and cared for by staff.

s a tribute to Nassau County Deputy Joshua Moyers, who was killed in the line of duty, one of the foxes will be named for him. During the manhunt for Moyers’ accused killer, a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9 was shot and wounded. That officer will also be recognized, along with Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper.

“We decided to pick names which reflect the service and sacrifice of those who protect and serve,” said Jonathan Howard, Director at The Ark. “The silver fox will be named Leeper, in honor of our Sheriff. The red fox will be named Chaos, in honor of the wounded K9 officer. The youngest and friendliest fox with its beautiful red and silver coat will be named Moyers in honor of our Nassau County deputy who lost his life in the line of duty.”The man accused of shooting Moyers was captured Tuesday at a sports complex in Callahan."

Rare Scrawny Black Fox Seen Frolicking In Elizabeth Colorado - RETRO 102.5, June 2021

" There have been several noteworthy wild animal sightings in Colorado lately. A moose in a Vail parking garage, a rescued baby owl, a hawk versus eagle fight, and tons more. Recently a woman in Elizabeth, Colorado caught footage of what appears to be a rare black fox. The video shows a fast black blob with a long tail.

In May Colorado Parks and Wildlife captured two of these rare foxes in Canon City. They said the "red fox rarely are cross, silver or black." So, they are red fox, with darker coloring. Cool! I saw a black fox years ago near Masonville and people have always assumed I was seeing things. Nice to know, I'm not alone.

The woman who posted this video said "this little fellow has been out and about during the day. Looks young and skinny. If he fattens up he would be a pretty boy but until then, watch out for your critters." Many of the comments to follow were of neighbors who had lost chickens to this fellow."

Rare Black Fox Spotted In Colorado Mountain Town - The Dever Gazettee, May 2021

"Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) shared a rare sighting of a black-colored red fox caught prowling around a chicken coop in Cañon City.

Wildlife officers were originally called out to the mountain town home to assist with a young fox responsible for a raiding a chicken coop. Upon arrival, they discovered two small foxes, but the two siblings looked nothing alike. 

One of the foxes was all black, except for white on the tips of its paws and tail. "That's a rare black red fox!" tweeted CPW. "This pair is rehabbing at Tom and Cec Sanders' nonprofit Wet Mountain Wildlife Rehab in Wetmore until old enough for release."

Famous Black Fox Plays Babies Toronto Backyard And There's Video - BlogTO, May 2021

"We love a good fox sighting in the city, and even more exciting, still, is when it's a typically aloof all-black fox — actually called silver foxes, and their adorable kits. Sightings of these melanistic foxes with shiny black coats and trademark white-tipped tails have been getting a lot more common and were on the rise last summer along with several other types of wildlife.

This came as a bit of a surprise considering they only represent about eight per cent of the red fox population in Canada and are known to be far more cautious than their counterparts.  We seem to be in for more sightings this year now that more than one Toronto backyard has already hosted the beautiful all-black animals.  Etobicoke resident Baylee Joy spotted one, as well as three adorable kits, in her backyard just this past weekend. "

Expect More Rare Fox Breeds In Barry, Says Welfare Group - Barry News Nub, March 2021

"Barry could become a hotspot for rare fox breeds in the next few years, according to Black Foxes UK CIC. The non-profit organisation has been involved in tracking and recovering escaped pet silver foxes around Barry in recent months.

Now, more sightings of black foxes and 'cross foxes' have been reported in the area since the capture of the missing pets. "It does look like more foxes are going to turn up in the area, but they are looking like they're hybrid of British red foxes and foxes that were bred for fur," explained Haley De Ronde, from Black Foxes UK CIC.

"Melanism is a recessive trait that leads to darker fur. I wouldn't expect a recessive trait to instantly appear, even in foxes. "It's something I'm seeing across the country, not just in Barry. In London and Halifax for example there's been a high prevalence of melanistic foxes, some of which, like the foxes in Barry, do appear to look like a North American Red Fox."

Abandoned Pet Silver Fox Has Foot Amputated After Being Caught In Snare - Barry News Nub, March 2021

"An abandoned pet silver fox has had its foot amputated after being caught in a snare in Barry.

Black Foxes UK CIC had been attempting to rescue the female, which they have called Luna, for two weeks and say a suspected male fox is still on the loose with an injury to either it's front left or rear leg. The CIC are appealing to Barry residents to send in any information on sightings of the fox so it can be brought in for treatment and rehomed.

"There's several issues tied into one. We know they're abandoned, and we've been working with the local animal warden," said Hayley De Ronde, from Black Foxes UK. "We can't confirm who the foxes belong to yet. There isn't any action that needs to be taken, but we are able to rehome them. The female is now recovering from her surgery, she's doing okay.

"Once Luna has the all-clear from the vets, she'll be sent to her new home to finish recovering and hopefully be introduced to a few foxes that are quite known for their escape attempts, previously rehomed by ourselves to an animal establishment. "There will be a team of keepers available should there be any need. They are known to be escape artists and difficult to keep as pets."

Rare Black Fox Spotted In London Garden - BBC, March 2021

"A rare black fox has been caught on camera prowling around a garden in west London. It was spotted by Faroz and his daughter Sophia, from Isleworth, who first thought it was a wolf, or a wild dog. The animals are a type of North American red fox with a trait that makes their fur silvery-black.

They make up about 0.1% of the UK fox population. "It was so big, I'd never seen anything like it before. Just pure amazement, really," Faroz said.The fur of the black fox is dark because of a rare genetic variation, but the campaign group Black Foxes UK say sightings have risen across several London boroughs since 2016."

Rare White 'fox' Spotted And Londoners Can't Figure Out What Animal It Is - My London, April 2021

"A white, fox-like creature has been spotted in various London locations, leaving residents concerned yet completely in awe of its appearance. The animal, spotted on Tuesday (March 30) has already caused quite the stir in the South London community, leaving many unsure of its nature, and concerned for its welfare. The resident who papped the four-pawed pup said he had 'never seen a fox like this before'.

While some thought it looked like a 'rare fox', others thought it looked 'more like a wolf'. Others wondered whether it was a 'hybrid' or mixture of breeds. Many had their own theories behind the thick white coat of fur that the animal displayed.

The white, fox-like creature sleeping on the green grass. It has been spotted in multiple locations in the capital. The creature has been spotted in multiple locations in the capital
One said the difference in colour was influenced by the amount of melatonin. Another identified it as a leucistic red fox "Much more common in the pet trade but can occur naturally although that’s much more unlikely."

Others believed it looked like a domestic species, so an escaped exotic pet as opposed to a wild fox. Regardless, residents agreed it was 'beautiful' and in 'such good condition for a London fox'.

The white, fox-like creature lying down on the grass with its head up turned to the side. Residents are hoping to identify the animal and seek help to ensure it is safe. Residents are hoping to identify the animal and seek help to ensure it is safe. A similar creature was also spotted on the border between London and Kent. Witnesses have said the creature appeared to be limping, leading residents to contact local fox charities for support."

Foxes Encourage Boreal Forest Growth - The Wildlife Society, March 2021

"During years that trees don’t grow so many cones, foxes may help increase spruce forest productivity. White spruce, like many coniferous trees, often alternate between productive and non-productive years when it comes to cone production. The phenomenon isn’t well understood, but usually entire areas of forest are synchronized in these productive years, called mast years.

Meanwhile, researchers had long known that Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) can boost the vegetation surrounding their dens in areas north of the tree line — the edge of forests where trees no longer grow — by depositing nitrogen and phosphorous back into the soil through their feces.

“You get this rich vegetation you can spot from a kilometer away,” said John Markham, a professor of plant ecology at the University of Manitoba. Markham and his co-authors wanted to see whether a similar relationship occurred between red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and spruce south of the tree line.

The researchers examined vegetation around dens near Churchill, Manitoba in July 2019 and compared them to areas without fox dens. They also bore into trees, using dendrochronology to assess the growth of yearly tree rings on fox dens and in control groups without fox dens. In research published recently in Basic and Applied Ecology, they found that foxes do, in fact, have an impact on white spruce.

“The trees that are growing on the dens have at least twice the growth rate based on the tree rings,” Markham said. “These are consistent nutrient hot spots on the landscape.” They then wanted to see whether this boost in growth was reflected in the trees producing more cones. They compared the cone production of different areas both in mast years and in non-mast years in areas with and without fox dens.

They found that fox den presence had little impact on cone numbers during mast years. But in the non-mast years when trees weren’t as productive, the foxes did have a downstream effect on cone numbers. More cones were produced per tree in a given area when fox dens were present during that time, Markham said.

He added that these extra nutrients are particularly important to spruce near the tree line — an area typically short on resources. In these areas, cold temperatures usually limit tree growth, but foxes may help the trees overcome this problem. “Having nutrients from the fox dens really helps the trees do a lot better,” he said."

Rare Mixed-breed Fox Cubs Taken In By Yorkshire Sanctuary After Being Found In Garden Shed - The Yorkshire Post, March 2021

"These bright white foxes would look more at home in the Arctic but the tiny cubs were spotted sleeping in a back garden in Brixton. The napping pair look more like Arctic foxes which are usually only found in extremely cold parts of the northern hemisphere. However, their more likely to be albinos of the common red foxes that we see every night in Britain. Albinos are extremely rare in foxes, more so than in many other species, but it's even rarer to see two together as it's extremely unlikely that more than one will be born in a single litter.

They're also all the more visible to predators so it's sadly uncommon for them to survive into adulthood. But these two can probably afford to be a little more carefree than some wild foxes as there are few predators in London that would pose a threat to them. A pair of foxes thought to be a mix between the traditional red fox and an Arctic fox are being cared for at a sanctuary in Yorkshire after being discovered in a garden shed. The animals were found last week by a bemused homeowner in the garden of a property in Hampshire, before being moved to Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary over the weekend.

Sanctuary workers have named the pair Debbie and Harry after hit 70s group Blondie, whose lead singer Debbie Harry was famed for her platinum locks. It's believed the cubs are the result of a male red fox, commonly seen in the UK, mating with an Arctic fox, which are native to polar regions such as Antarctica.Wildlife sanctuary manager Alex Farmer said it's likely Debbie and Harry were bred to be sold in the illegal exotic pet trade, as there is a market for foxes with lighter-coloured fur.

Alex said the RSPCA attended the scene in Hampshire and helped transport the cubs, which are thought to be around three months old, to charity Wildlife Aid in Surrey. Harry was having seizures and suffered hypoglycaemia initially but he has now been nursed back to health and both cubs are said to be in great spirits. Alex explained the animals were immediately friendly, tame and approachable, which is what has led her to believe they were bred in captivity in order to sell.

She said: "Both Debbie and Harry are very affectionate, which is highly unusual for fox cubs. Usually they're very nervous and wary of people. These two are lovely animals but unfortunately we think they were probably bred for the exotic pet trade. "After doing a fair bit of research and speaking to fellow fox carers, there was a collective agreement they've been bred from a red fox and an exotic, an Arctic fox perhaps. Their colouring is certainly quite different so we are interested to see them grow. "Why they were abandoned we will never know."

Barry Resident's Pet Silver Foxes Escape - BBC, March 2021

"Photos of a pair of unusual animals roaming Barry were posted on Facebook today, leaving some confused about what they were and where they had come from. The two creatures are not dogs or raccoons as some speculated: they are silver foxes that Llandinam Road resident Lee Saif keeps as pets.

Lee has had Aurora and Zazu since they were six and a half weeks old, and now four years on, also cares for their three cubs. "They aren't dangerous, they won't bite or anything. They know where home is and always return," said Lee. "I've got that bond and trust with them now. "Some people might say 'oh they're just animals' but they're not, they are so much more," said Lee. "They're my family, you know?"

Lee says his Siberian silver foxes help him manage his schizophrenia by giving him a routine and distracting him from what he might be experiencing mentally. Friends and neighbours alerted Lee that his foxes had escaped, and were messaging him about sightings. Aurora, a female, has since returned home but male Zazu is still out.

Lee says he will come back eventually, describing Zazu as playful and friendly, while Aurora has a more cautious personality. "The females only mate with one male, but the males mate with as many females as they like," said Lee. "This isn't the first time they've got out. They got out a couple of years ago when the gate wasn't locked properly, but this time they've actually burrowed one metre down and three metres across. "So, they came up right on the outside of the fence, they knew what they were doing. "December and January time is mating season for them, and their bodies just take over," he said.

Aurora and Zazu are not the first unusual pets that animal-lover Lee has had: as a teenager he kept various reptiles, and even owned a Harris hawk at one point. Lee says he researched the animals, which are melanistic forms of red foxes, giving them their distinctive fur colour, thoroughly before buying them to make sure he was allowed to keep them as pets.He built a spacious enclosure for them in his back garden, comprised of an indoor and outdoor area"

Silver Foxes Found Dead On Main Ħaż-żebbuġ Road Didn’t Look Neglected, Exotic Pet Store Owner Says - Lovin Malta, January 2021

"Two silver foxes whose bodies were found on a main Ħaż-Żebbuġ road this morning didn’t look neglected, an exotic pet shop owner who sells these kind of foxes has said.“Judging from the photo, they didn’t look neglected or that they died of hunger,” Nicholas Delia, who runs the Rodent Kingdom & Exotics store, told Lovin Malta. “They looked healthy and domesticated.”

Delia has been selling foxes for years but couldn’t confirm as a fact whether the ones who were found dead on Mdina Road had originated from his store. He said this incident shouldn’t be used to generalise the behaviour of all pet foxes, pointing out that accidents and mistakes occur with all kinds of pets."

2020

Rare Black Fox Spotted In Somerset Is Back Home After Escape Bid - BBC, December 2020

"A rare black fox has been returned to a wildlife park after escaping and bringing traffic to a standstill. It has emerged the animal, who was seen walking near Brean in Somerset on Monday, had escaped from the Animal Farm Adventure Park. Known as Wilf, he also once escaped from a previous home in Manchester, before being found in the city's Trafford Centre. His new owners have said they will be building higher fences in future.

Black foxes are a type of North American red fox with a trait that makes their fur silvery-black. According to campaign group Black Foxes UK, they make up less than 0.1% of the fox population here.

After creating plenty of publicity when he was spotted near Brean on 28 December, Wilf was found on a local farm and returned to the pen he shares with a fellow fox called Kit. Wilf came to Animal Farm Adventure Park eight months ago after being transferred from a previous home in Manchester, where he developed a taste for freedom."

Urban Foxes May be Self-Domesticating in our Midst - AAAS Science, June 2020

"In a famous ongoing experiment started in 1960, scientists turned foxes into tame, doglike canines by breeding only the least aggressive ones generation after generation. The creatures developed stubby snouts, floppy ears, and even began to bark.

Now, it appears that some rural red foxes in the United Kingdom are doing this on their own. When the animals moved from the forest to city habitats, they began to evolve doglike traits, new research reveals, potentially setting themselves on the path to domestication.

“I’m not so much surprised as delighted,” by this study, says Lee Dugatkin, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Louisville, who has written about the Russian fox experiment but was not involved with the new work. “This is a ‘natural experiment’ that is very much in line with what the Russian experiment has found.”

The renowned Siberian study immediately came to mind when Kevin Parsons heard about a large collection of red fox skulls at National Museums Scotland. A native Canadian and evolutionary biologist at the University of Glasgow, Parsons had already been struck by the number of foxes he regularly saw on Glasgow’s streets, particularly in the early morning. “They’d walk by me and stare, as if asking, ‘Why are you looking at me?’” he recalled. “They were fearless.”

Curious to see whether the animals had somehow evolved to suit their urban lifestyle, Parsons examined National Museums Scotland’s fox skull collection. Some 1500 skulls had been collected from 1971 to 1973 in London and the adjacent countryside, when a fox culling campaign was underway. All were marked with their locations, rural or urban. Urban areas were defined as having buildings, streetlights, and no wooded areas, whereas rural sites were wooded and lacked human development.

Parsons photographed 57 female and 54 male skulls and identified key features. A fox’s habitat greatly affected the shape of its skull, he and his colleagues report today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B."

Belyaev’s and PEI's - Foxes: A Far Cry - Cell, April 2020

"The writers of ‘The History of Farm Foxes Undermines the Animal Domestication Syndrome’, a recent publication in TREE [1], are attempting to analytically revise the results of a well-known decades-long experiment in domesticating silver foxes (Belyaev’s experiment). However, our impression from reading the article is that some clarification is needed on the history of the farm foxes. The main rationale behind the writers’ effort is the Canadian origin of the foxes bred in Russia and used in Belyaev’s experiment. The writers portray this as something that Belyaev and his colleagues may not have been aware of. However, Belyaev wrote about the Canadian origin of the foxes bred in the USSR in 1948...

Lord et al.  state that cranial morphology does not distinguish between tame and unselected foxes. However, significant differences in skull morphology between the foxes are shown in a work of ours. Changes to the foxes’skull proportions follow a similar pattern to those in many historically domesticated animals, suggesting that selection for behavior may be the factor. This, in turn, may be indicative of similar changes to the regulatory mechanisms of development during selection for behavior." 

Barnaby The Fox Gets A Brand New Play Area At The Bucks Goat Centre In Stoke Mandeville - The Bucks Herald, January 2020

"Visitors flocked to The Bucks Goat Centre on Saturday morning for the unveiling of a very special play area for a very special fox. Barnaby the silver fox is from a family of foxes which were saved from the fur trade, and is now an ambassador for his species to help change people's minds about hunting and wearing fur.

On Saturday Barnaby's keeper Anthony Hearn explained to visitors about Barnaby, as he saw his new play room for the first time. The play room includes a fox-sized hamster wheel, multi-level climbing equipment and a swing ball.And as part of the educational aspect of the new enclosure, there is also a small cage, to demonstrate how Barnaby would be kept if he were a fur trade fox. Barnaby does not live in the enclosure full time, and goes home with staff every night, he is tame, lives like a pet, and would not survive in the wild.

He eats a variety of foods including rats, chicks, eggs, blueberries and his favourite, a cheesy omelette! Also present on the day was Hayley de Ronde of the Black Foxes UK organisation, and she gave a speech explaining the difference between Barnaby and indigenous foxes in the UK.

Members of the public can visit Barnaby daily in his new enclosure at the Layby Farm attraction, in Stoke Mandeville. A spokesperson for The Bucks Goat Centre said: "In the UK foxes face persecution from a number of different areas of society and are often labelled as a pest species or vermin.

"We decided to house Barnaby, our captive bred silver fox, to educate our visitors about the plight of foxes in the UK and their use in the horrific fur farm trade around the world (thankfully outlawed in the UK in the year 2000)."

The spokesperson added: "We plan in the future to do some fox experiences to give people a better understanding of these animals , to show that they aren't just mindless killing machines."When we think of a fox coming onto our land maybe we should start to think that we have been encroaching on the fox's land."

2019

Famous Foxes Bred for Tameness Weren’t Actually Wild in the First Place, Claims Controversial New Paper - Gizmodo, Dec 2019

"But as a new opinion paper published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution points out, a critical part of this story isn’t actually true: the original foxes used in the experiment weren’t actually taken from the wild. Moreover, and perhaps more controversially, the authors, who include Elinor Karlsson, a biologist from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Gregor Larson, a paleogeneticist from the University of Oxford, contend that domestication syndrome is a half-baked concept that’s probably not even a real condition.

That Belyaev’s foxes weren’t originally wild seems to be the case. The authors provided evidence—much of it already publicly available—showing that Belyaev acquired the foxes from Soviet fur farms, which in turn had acquired their foxes from Canadian breeders, specifically fox farms in Prince Edward Island. Canadian entrepreneurs had been domesticating foxes since the late 19th century, selecting for both appearance and behavior, according to the paper. So by the time Belyaev got his hands on them, these foxes were already going through domestication."

Two Extremely Rare Albino Foxes With Completely White Fur Spotted Roaming Around North London Park In Broad Daylight - Mail Online, September 2019

"Two adorable albino foxes have been spotted playing in a park in north London. Eagle-eyed Chinamski Pereira, 42, was standing on his balcony having a cigarette one early morning in August. He saw the two rare animals darting between railings before heading into a park in Angel, north London. The music manager grabbed his phone to capture the moment as the two foxes ran and played together.

He said: 'At first I thought they were two dogs playing. 'Then I looked more closely and saw that they were actually two albino foxes. 'I see foxes around here all the time, but to see two albino ones together is very unusual.'

Chinamaski's video shows the white-furred pair weaving in and out of metal gates before heading into the park and chasing a red-furred fox. Albino foxes have striking white fur and this pair appear to be underfed. This isn't the first time the rare furry creatures have been spotted in the capital. There was another sighting of a single albino fox in north London in early July of this year.In 2015, two albino foxes were photographed taking a nap in a back garden in Brixton, south London."

Rare albino fox spotted lurking around London car park - Metro, June 2019

"The pale creature was filmed darting between cars near a housing estate in Angel, north London. Resident Chimanski Pereira, 42, said he was amazed to find the animal lurking outside his window and initially thought it was a dog. He said: ‘I could see a few normal foxes running around and then I saw what I thought was sure was a dog.

I thought it was funny that a dog was playing with some foxes and that’s when I realised.’ ‘I was amazed – it’s not something you see every day. ‘I’ve read stories about albino foxes before so I knew instantly how special they are."

*These foxes are native red foxes that are displaying a rare and temporary form of leucism caused by a condition known as "fever coat", which occurs as a result of extreme stress or illness in a pregnant vixen. Cubs born with this condition will usually develop their  full colour by their first full moult. 

Ancient Bolivian Fox-Snout Pouch Contained Cocaine And Other Hallucinogenic Drugs - Forbes, May 2019

"In a rock shelter known as Cueva del Chileno in the highlands of southwestern Bolivia, archaeologists have discovered a group of artifacts including a fox-snout pouch that revealed evidence of hallucinogenic drug use more than a thousand years ago.

Excavated from 2008-2010, the rock shelter was first used around 2000 BC, and yielded a hearth and obsidian tools. After that, the area seems to have been used as a funerary enclosure; however, no mummies were uncovered, leading the archaeologists to suspect they were desecrated and the enclosure destroyed. A ritual deposit was then placed on top, including turquoise beads, colored strings, cut braids of human hair, and a peculiar bundle. Eventually, that deposit was capped by llama and sheep dung as the rock shelter was used by pastoralists protecting their flocks over the years.

Writing today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an international group of archaeologists led by Melanie Miller of the University of Otago in New Zealand detail their discovery and analysis of the unprecedented treasure trove of ritual equipment.."

Final missing Colchester black fox found dead on A12 - East Anglian Daily Times, April 2019

"The last of three rare breed foxes from Colchester that went missing has been found dead on the side of the A12. Owner Richard Ashton, from Ipswich, confirmed the death this morning following a tip-off on a Facebook group made to help locate the animal. The fox was said to be limping when spotted on Sunday, although the cause of the injury and death remains unknown...

The other two foxes, who are partners, were found on Friday and Saturday, with the first being found in the garden of Fairview Hospital and the other caught in Mill Road Surgery's car park... The foxes are said to be in good health, although the friend has been left with a heavily bandaged hand"

*The cause of death was a road traffic accident. Sadly, captive bred animals have no road awareness. Foxes are most often active at night, but their dark coats and poor road sense mean they are at a very high risk of injury as a result. It is why we work so hard to get missing silver foxes located and to safety as soon as possible. 

Black foxes escape in 'suspected break-in' in Colchester - BBC, April 2019

"Three rare black foxes escaped in a suspected break-in at a temporary enclosure in Essex... The animals are a type of North American red fox with a trait that makes their fur silvery-black... They were being kept overnight at Mr Aston's parents' home where a hole was found at the back of their outdoor enclosure. Mr Aston, a 33-year-old rare animal expert, said people should not approach the foxes which were captive-bred and he was "extremely concerned" for their welfare... "They're also not road savvy at all, they have no fear of it whatsoever."

Black Foxes UK said: "Around 0.1% of foxes in the UK are melanistic (black) by our records. These escaped foxes are not a native species... Mr Aston added he had contacted Essex Police and the RSPCA about the foxes"

White Fox and Serval Wild Cat Arrive at Rescue Center near Boston from Belgium - Boston Standard, March 2019

"It comes less then a week after the Ark Wildlife Park and Animal Rescue Sanctuary, in Stickney, took in a silver fox, which had been taken to a local vets over concerns it could not be tamed. The white fox and serval, a type of wild cat native to Africa, arrived on Wednesday morning from Belgium’s Natuurhulpcentrum (Nature Health Centre)....

Michelle Mintram, resident fox expert and co-owner of the ARK, said: “The female white fox is a leucistic fox that was being passed off as a dog by her original owners. Leucism is a condition in which there is a partial loss of pigmentation in an animal. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin. Leucistic animals do not have red eyes; in fact, this stunning girl has the most incredible pale blue eyes that I have ever seen. Her arrival, along with Tembea, has been planned for several months and she is currently housed in our quarantine area. Her name is yet to be decided"

I Photographed Foxes In My Studio And Fell In Love With Their Characters - Bored Panda, February 2019

"As a pet photographer, my normal client is a dog or cat. Never would I expect to photograph Foxes! Pet foxes are not a normal thing in the UK so this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was hard to resist putting fox cuddles before taking the photographs.

I got lucky to work with Joy’s Pets, based in Gloucestershire, UK. Amongst your more exotic animals like reptiles, owls and hedgehogs they now house a small family of foxes. Of course, I took up the challenge of shooting these beautiful but wild creatures and I was so thrilled with the result of the images. I met two of their foxes and we covered two shoots over a year. Both foxes live outdoors whilst interacting with humans and their owners so they are mostly domesticated but I was headed into uncharted water with this shoot, I had no idea what to expect from them...

Working with wild animals is always a challenge and none more than introducing them to a foreign, confined space. Even though brought up as pets, these foxes will always retain wild habits and you can only predict, to a certain level, what any animal will do. Whether it’s domesticated or wild, every animal deserves patience, space and respect when being photographed"

Foxes were Domesticated by Humans in the Bronze Age - Eurek Alert, February 2019

"In the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, between the third and second millennium BC, a widespread funeral practice consisted in burying humans with animals. Scientists have discovered that both foxes and dogs were domesticated, as their diet was similar to that of their owners.

The discovery of four foxes and a large number of dogs at the Can Roqueta (Barcelona) and Minferri (Lleida) sites stands out among the many examples of tombs in different parts of the north-eastern peninsula. These burials reveal a generalized funeral practice that proliferated in the Early to Middle Bronze Age: that of burying humans together with domestic animals"

Can you Help Dexter? Animal Rescue Center near Boston takes in Silver Fox and Launches Appeal - Boston Standard, January 2019

"An animal rescue centre near Boston is appealing for help in providing a new enclosure and ongoing care for its latest resident – a stunning silver fox who keepers have named Dexter. Dexter was rescued by the ARK Wildlife Park and Animal Rescue Sanctuary, in Stickney, yesterday (Thursday, January 17) following a call from a local veterinary clinic.

A member of the public had taken the fox in to the clinic and requested that he be put to sleep, finding him too aggressive to be tamed. The vets declined and convinced the owner to sign Dexter over into their care. They then went about finding the animal a long-term home, approaching the ARK Wildlife Park and Animal Rescue Sanctuary. The centre already houses rescued foxes and has lots of experience with such animals and other exotic species. The ARK agreed to take him in and he was delivered to them later on Thursday evening"

Gorgeous! Lincolnshire Wildlife Park Welcomes Two New Additions - Lincolnshire Live, January 2019

"Keepers at a wild life park in Lincolnshire have welcomed two new ‘magical’ additions to their extended family.A stunning white fox and a very playful Serval have made the journey from Belgium to Stickney, near Boston, arriving at the Ark Wildlife Park on Wednesday, January 23.

They came from Natuurhulpcentrum, Wildlife Rescue. It has been in operation since 1976 and provides temporary care for confiscated or neglected exotic animals and sick or injured animals that are indigenous to Belgium.

Both these new arrivals were found being kept illegally, in unsuitable conditions, by private owners and confiscated by Belgium authorities. Jamie Mintram, head keeper and co-owner of the Ark, said: "The Serval is a two-year-old male that the keepers have named Tembea, after the Swahili word for 'walk' or 'leap'."

2018

Natural history museum's wildlife photographer of the year - The Telegraph, December 2018

"Tin was fortunate enough to be told about a fox den in Washington state, North America, which was home to a family of red, black and silver foxes. After days of waiting for good weather he was finally rewarded with this touching moment"

Rare black fox spotted on Tarleton road - Lancashire Post, December 2018

"A rare black fox has been spotted wandering the streets of Tarleton. The fox was caught on camera by a local farmer at the junction of Middle Meanygate and Taylors Meanygate, between Banks and Tarleton on Wednesday. Black foxes have been hunted almost to extinction in the UK for their unusual fur - however, there has been an increase in the number of reported sightings in the past few years, according to wildlife volunteer group Black Foxes UK"

Pet silver fox found after Bonfire Night 'he escaped or was dumped by owners' - Lancashire Post, December 2018

"A legendary silver fox has been found lurking in a suburban garden to avoid the loud explosions of fireworks celebrations. The beautiful creature with its striking smoky-grey coat and dazzling white tail is feared to have either escaped from its owners or been deliberately dumped.

Silver foxes were once one of the most prized of all wild creatures, their luxuriant coats the reserve of kings, tsars and nobles across Europe. During the Soviet period they were farmed in huge numbers and are still reared and slaughtered in parts of the world for the fur industry... The animal welfare charity is now looking after the fox, which has been nicknamed Shadow, at its Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich"

Caged animals resort to cannibalism on "high welfare" fur farms linked to Britain's most upmarket brands and sellers - The Independent, November 2018

"Mink, Foxes and raccoon dogs have been filmed resorting to cannibalism and suffering painful wounds at a “heartbreaking” fur farm endorsed by a supplier linked with some of Britain’s most expensive luxury brands and sellers.

Investigators say they found “deplorable conditions and distressing animal suffering” at two centres in Finland certified by fur industry chiefs as “high welfare”. They revealed their findings to pressure UK government ministers to ban imports and sales of real fur to close a legal loophole"

Domesticated Foxes Laugh With You (And Without You) - Psychology Today, October 2018

"In a number of other Psychology Today posts (here and here), I have written about the remarkable silver fox domestication study that my colleague and friend Lyudmila Trut (who has been leading this study since 1958; not a typo, she turns 85 next month) and I discuss in our book, How to Tame a Fox and Build a Dog. In those posts, I discussed how this six-decade (and counting) experiment has produced behaviorally tame foxes that look remarkably dog-like. Here, I want to tell you about one of the more remarkable traits that has recently appeared in these foxes..."

Silver Fox Study Reveals Genetic Clues To Social Behavior - Phys.Org, September 2018

"In 1959, Russian scientists began an experiment to breed a population of silver foxes, selecting and breeding foxes that exhibited friendliness toward people. They wanted to know if they could repeat the adaptations for tameness that must have occurred in domestic dogs. Subsequently they also bred another population of foxes for more aggressive behavior.

After 10 generations, a small fraction of the tame-bred foxes displayed dog-like domesticated behavior when people approached. Over time, an increasing fraction of the foxes showed this friendly behavior.Now, after more than 50 generations of selective breeding, a new Cornell-led study compares gene expression of tame and aggressive silver foxes in two areas of the brain, shedding light on genes responsible for social behavior.

The study, published online Sept. 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identified genes that were altered in tame animals in two areas of the brain involved with learning and memory. "That such a radical change in temperament could be accomplished so quickly is truly remarkable," said Andrew Clark, professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell and a senior co-author of the paper."

Los Angeles fur ban: Where else in the world is fox, mink and sable prohibited? - The Independent, September 2018

"Los Angeles City Council has voted unanimously to ban the sale of fur clothing. The city's attorney will now draft legislation outlining the prohibition of fox, mink, sable and chinchilla coats and stoles, making LA the largest city in the world to take such steps, following San Francisco's decision to do likewise in March this year and West Hollywood in 2013. “If we can do it here, we can do it anywhere,” said councillor Paul Koretz, who sponsored the animal rights initiative. “We hope that New York City and Chicago and Miami are all watching.”

Given the City of Angels’ reputation as an influential fashion mecca, activists are optimistic other major regional centres will follow its example and outlaw a practice they consider deeply inhumane. Britain banned fur farming in 2000 and EU law prohibits the sale of fur products derived from cats, dogs and seals. The import of fox and rabbit furs is still legal, however, and organisations like Fur Free Britain have appealed to MPs to change the law"

Those Domesticated Foxes of Siberia Never Stop Giving - Psychology Today, August 2018

"I wanted to give readers a quick update to my March 27th post “Want to Build a Dog From a Fox? Here's How to Do It.” In that post, I wrote “Tucked away in Siberia, there are furry, four-legged creatures with wagging tails and loving eyes that are as docile and friendly as any lapdog. But, despite appearances, these are not dogs—they are foxes.

They are the result of the most astonishing experiment in breeding ever undertaken—imagine speeding up thousands of years of evolution into a few decades. In 1959, biologists Dmitri Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut set out to do just that, by starting with a few dozen silver foxes from fox farms in the USSR and attempting to recreate the evolution of wolves into dogs in real time in order to witness the process of domestication. Most accounts of the natural evolution of wolves place it over a span of about 15,000 years, but within a decade, Belyaev and Trut’s fox-breeding experiments had resulted in puppy-like foxes with piebald spots, curly tails, and, occasionally, droopy ears. Along with these physical changes came genetic and behavioral changes, as well.

In this ongoing experiment, now nearing its 6th decade, foxes were bred using selection criteria for tameness, and with each generation, they became increasingly interested in human companionship.”

The first detailed map of red foxes’ DNA may reveal domestication secrets - Science News, August 2018

"For nearly 60 years, scientists in Siberia have bred silver foxes in an attempt to replay how domestication occurred thousands of years ago. Now, in a first, researchers have compiled the genetic instruction book, or genome, of Vulpes vulpes, the red fox species that includes the silver-coated variant. This long-awaited study of the foxes’ DNA may reveal genetic changes that drove domestication of animals such as cats and dogs, the team reports online August 6 in Nature Ecology & Evolution...

Rif, the male silver fox whose DNA serves as the example, or reference, genome for all members of the species, was the son of an aggressive vixen and a tame male. Geneticist Anna Kukekova of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and colleagues also conducted less-detailed examinations of 30 foxes’ DNA: 10 foxes each from the tame and aggressive groups and 10 animals from a “conventional” group that hadn’t been bred for either friendliness or aggression... Those genomes are an invaluable resource for researchers studying domestication, behavioral and population genetics and even human disorders such as autism and mental illness, says Ben Sacks, a canid evolutionary geneticist at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. “It makes all kinds of research possible that weren’t before,” he says"

Forest Ecology Shapes Lyme Disease Risk In The Eastern Us - Eureka Alert, July 2018

"In the eastern US, risk of contracting Lyme disease is higher in fragmented forests with high rodent densities and low numbers of resident fox, opossum, and raccoons. These are among the findings from an analysis of 19 years of data on the ecology of tick-borne disease in a forested landscape, recently published in the journal Ecology.

Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the US. "Using nearly two decades of data on the forest food web, we were interested in untangling the ecological conditions that regulate the number of infected ticks in the landscape," explains Richard S. Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and one of the paper's lead authors.

Long-term data were collected in Dutchess County, NY, an epicenter for Lyme disease. Variables monitored at six forested field plots (2.2 hectares each) on the grounds of the Cary Institute included: small mammals, blacklegged ticks, tick-borne pathogens, deer, acorns, and climate. Predator communities and tick infection rates were also recorded at 126 sites throughout Dutchess County over two years.

Taal Levi of Oregon State University, also a lead author, notes, "Our goal was to identify ecological indicators that could be used to protect public health. By analyzing these long-term data holistically, we can tease out how changes in things like predator populations and food resources shift the community structure of the forest ecosystem, and ultimately the abundance of infected blacklegged ticks searching for a meal."...

"This is the first time that we've synthesized the effects of bottom-up and top-down control - together with climate - on infected tick abundance. The length of this dataset, as well as the sample size of both collected ticks and captured small mammals, are unprecedented in this context," Ostfeld explains. The authors conclude that in oak-dominated forests in the eastern US, tick-borne disease risk is strongly tied to the fluctuating acorn supply and the structure of the predator community.

Levi notes, "Diverse, intact carnivore communities can help suppress nymphal tick infection by limiting rodent populations. Forests that have been overexploited or fragmented by development cannot support midsized predators like foxes and bobcats, and populations of small mammals expand unchecked."

Ostfeld outlines a worst-case scenario, "If fluctuating acorn crops cause rodent populations to spike and then crash, the spring following the rodent crash would be especially risky. There would be lots of infected nymphs and fewer rodents to provide blood meals. Ticks would seek other hosts, like people. Risk increases in areas lacking predators and mammal hosts that are efficient at killing ticks, such as opossums."

In the absence of vaccines, giving people the right information at the right time and place is critical to reducing cases of tick-borne disease. Ostfeld concludes, "Understanding disease systems can help us refine predictions of when and where risk will be especially high. Issuing warnings based on these specific predictions, rather than broad-stroke PSAs, will hopefully counter 'warning fatigue' and encourage people to become more proactive in taking self-protection measures."

On the hunt in Oregon for a rare fox: Biologists are finding greater numbers in Oregon of Sierra Nevada red fox - The Siberian Times, February 2018

"In a dense forest at the base of Mount Bachelor, two wildlife biologists slowly walked toward a small cage trap they hoped would contain a rare red fox species. Jamie Bowles, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife technician in Bend, and Tim Hiller, founder of the Montana-based Wildlife Ecology Institute, stepped carefully as branches crunched under their feet.

For the past year, the state wildlife agency and Hiller’s organization have worked together to trap and place radio collars on Sierra Nevada red foxes, a rarely seen subspecies recently discovered roaming in the Oregon Cascades. Officials have no idea how many live in Oregon, and fewer than 100 live in Northern California. On the sunny Friday morning in June, the trap was empty, as were two other traps the biologists set near Mount Bachelor.

“This is a typical day for us,” Bowles said. “Not having anything in the traps.” But the past year has been a success for their efforts to study the Sierra Nevada red fox, which they began researching in 2012. When a fox was trapped and given a radio collar in May 2017, it was hailed as a first for Oregon wildlife biologists, who suspected the small mammals were here, but had little proof"

Admiring black, bright amber and burgundy colours of an exotic looking fox - The Siberian Times, February 2018

"Kamchatka reserve rangers say they haven’t seen such animal in decades. A female fox with a dark-coloured belly, back and tail has been noticed at the Kronotsky Nature Reserve in Kamchatka... Seeing this kind of fox is an incredibly rare. Zoologist Alexander Nikanorov who has been working with Kamchatka foxes for several decades have only seen such foxes twice before.

"Kamchatka peninsula doesn’t really have foxes with colour mutations. Typical for us is the Anadyr, or Red fox, which comes in a vivid ginger colour. Locals call it Fire fox because of the bright-colored fur. We haven't seen the Silver fox for several decades, or the Cross type fox, which is the result of Red and Silver foxes mating", explained Nikanorov.  "This particular fox with the black belly is the next step, a transitional colour mutation phase from the Cross type fox to Silver fox."

Study Links Fox Domestication To Gene Activity In The Pituitary Gland - Phys.Org, February 2018

"A study of foxes offers new insights into the brain changes that occur in wild canids as they become more tame, researchers report. The study links fox domestication to changes in gene activity in the pituitary gland, a brain center that kicks out hormones to regulate various bodily functions, including the stress response.

"Other studies have seen a relationship between tameness and stress responses in animals," said Jessica Hekman, the first author of the paper who worked on the study as a graduate student in the laboratory of University of Illinois animal sciences professor Anna Kukekova. Hekman is now a postdoctoral researcher at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "In particular, the characteristic reduction in fearfulness of domesticated animals is closely linked to reductions in blood levels of ACTH, a hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland that, among other things, drives the stress response."

To get a better view of how this might occur, the researchers looked at gene activity in the anterior pituitary glands of foxes in a breeding program at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia, designed to study the evolutionary processes associated with domestication. They compared six foxes selectively bred for tameness and six foxes selectively bred for aggression.."

Fox Hunting: Fox owner discusses the misconception surrounding hunting - SW Londoner, January 2018

"A gamekeeper and owner of a domesticated fox admits he supports fox shooting as a form of pest control. Freddie Samuel, from Surrey, looks after pet fox Benjamin, but his job requires him to shoot other foxes that cause havoc on farms around the area. Gamekeepers were originally meant as policemen of the countryside, providing shooting for the rich and famous.

Freddie, 24, said: “I am a gamekeeper and farmer so yes, I am for shooting foxes. “My view is that everything has to be controlled and if there is no control then disease and interbreeding will overcome the fox population.... Mr Samuel uses high calibre rifles or traps which are designed to hold and not kill. “I am not into trophy hunting and not into mass killing for no reason what so ever. “I’m not someone who goes out for the fun of it, I’m someone who goes out for the practicality of the job

Norway set to become first Nordic country to ban fur farming - The Telegraph, January 2018

"Norway is set to become the first Nordic country to ban fur industries, as it plans to close all fox and mink farms by 2025. The pledge was made by Norway's Conservative Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, after partners in the country's new three-part coalition government discussed the terms of their collaboration last week.

Norway's Liberal Party, which is the new and smallest party in the coalition, has been credited for pushing the initiative. Norway is now the 14th European country to phase out fur farming. The move was welcomed by animal protection charities. “This is a fantastic victory for the fight to stop the fur industry in Europe,” said Thorbjørn Schiønning, the campaigns manager "

'Faux fur' products made of real fur, it emerges as Boots pulls accessories from shelves - The Telegraph, January 2018

"Boots has recalled 'faux fur' hairpins from shelves, after it was found they were actually made of real fur. Shoppers who are conscious of animal rights and the problems with the fur trade often buy faux fur, made of synthetic fibres, instead of the real thing.

They may be shocked to discover that retailers across the high street use suppliers which have mislabeled faux fur — and are actually selling real fur obtained in unknown and possibly cruel conditions. Savvy shopper Ruby Miranda could smell a rat when she felt the fur on the Scunchi hairpins sold by Boots and labelled as faux fur"

Two Adorable 8-month old foxes were rescued from a fur farm play in a huge pile of leaves at rescue center - The Daily Mail, January 2018

"These cute foxes were leaping through a pile of fallen leaves in a fun game with their rescuers. After being rejected from a fur farm, eight-month-old Rowyn and Thystle were taken to a rescue centre in Minnesota. Following their depressing start to life, they can now have a lot more fun, as this video, shot in December, shows.

Two sanctuary workers capture the cubs' attention by rustling a hand under a pile of leaves. The intrigued foxes' instincts kick in, and they leap head first into the leaves as if hunting a small rodent. The video was taken by Mikayla Raines from Saveafox Rescue in Lakeville, Minnesota"

2017

Florida couple bought a pet fox for $600 and now let it sleep in their bed at night and roam freely around the house like 'a cat on drugs' - The Daily Mail, December 2017

"A Florida couple have a pet fox which they let sleep in their bed at night and sit on the front seat during car journeys. Brandon Race, 32, and Jessi Ladd, 24, take Swyper out for walks in Palm Beach on a 30-foot leash and have taught her to follow commands such as sit and lie down. They feed the nine-month-old... red fox with puppy food or their own leftovers, while chicken hearts, beef, eggs and Quorn are reserved as special treats.

The couple bought the fox in May this year from a breeder in Indiana. Swyper's parents were freed from a fur farm when it closed, and gave birth to her shortly after. After moving to Florida, Swyper was hand-reared on soft fruits, vegetables and pet food. Mr Race said she has ‘free roam’ of their 900-square-foot house and is very friendly with several of the couple’s friends who come to visit"

*Swyper is a farm fox and not a Russian experimental animal as suggested in the report. Black Foxes UK is also sad to report that shortly after this article was published, Swyper suffered a nasty leg injury that has left her fighting for her life. 

Senior MP vows to push Government on fur imports ban after alarming probe - Sky News, December 2017

A senior MP has vowed to put pressure on the Government to bring in a fur imports ban while calling for an inquiry into mislabelled fur. Neil Parish, the chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, told Sky News it was an issue the Government needed to look at quickly.

He said: "Due to your Sky investigation, we will now very much put pressure on the Government to bring in a ban. "I'm also going to talk to the Secretary of State Michael Gove for DEFRA, who is extremely keen on animal welfare and within the select committee of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which I chair. "I would use the fact that Sky have had this investigation to look at a way we could have an inquiry into the issue as well.""

Defenceless fox is seen writhing in pain before making a desperate bid for freedom in shocking undercover footage of Polish fur farm - The Daily Mail, October 2017

"Shocking undercover footage from a Polish fur farm captures the desperate final moments of an Arctic fox as it makes a final bid for freedom. Animal protection charity Animal Defenders International set up a series of hidden cameras to capture the harrowing goings-on at the farm in Kościan County.

Each year, some 110 million animals are killed on fur farms where the their living quarters often comprise small, bare, mesh cages. Over 15 million foxes are killed in a year - usually for trinkets, trims and accessories - but up to 35 foxes can be required to make a fur coat"

Mother keeps 'domesticated' fox as a pet and lets it play with her two young children – even though it has a habit of biting strangers - The Daily Mail, September 2017

"A mother-of-two has hand-reared a fox cub and lets it play with her young children - despite the animal having a tendency to nip strangers. Natalie Reynolds, 35, keeps Jasper the fox in the garden of her Hertfordshire home alongside her three dogs, cat and horses. She says the animal gets on well with her daughter, Marissa, five, and three-year-old son, Chace, and they even take him for walks"

*This is a "tame" fox - a wild rescue, not a captive bred "domesticated" fox. 

Outfoxed - UK’s rarest animal the black fox is filmed trying to jump in the back of a van – before cub is revealed as a pet called Wilf who keeps running away - The Sun, September 2017

"Shocked Sam Houghton couldn't believe his eyes when the unusual creature attempted to climb into his vehicle. Sam said: "We were loading up then he just came from nowhere and tried to jump into the van. "I was scared to be honest and tired to jump out, then it ran away behind some of our containers.""

*We can confirm that Wilf is now back home and secure within his enclosure.

Lyme Disease’s Worst Enemy? It Might Be Foxes - New York Times, August 2017

"It is August, the month when a new generation of black-legged ticks that transmit Lyme and other diseases are hatching. On forest floors, suburban estates and urban parks, they are looking for their first blood meal. And very often, in the large swaths of North America and Europe where tick-borne disease is on the rise, they are feeding on the ubiquitous white-footed mice and other small mammals notorious for harboring pathogens that sicken humans.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. A new study suggests that the rise in tick-borne disease may be tied to a dearth of traditional mouse predators, whose presence might otherwise send mice scurrying into their burrows. If mice were scarcer, larval ticks, which are always born uninfected, might feed on other mammals and bird species that do not carry germs harmful to humans. Or they could simply fail to find that first meal. Ticks need three meals to reproduce; humans are at risk of contracting diseases only from ticks that have previously fed on infected hosts.

For the study, Tim R. Hofmeester, then a graduate student at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and the lead researcher of the study, placed cameras in 20 plots across the Dutch countryside to measure the activity of foxes and stone martens, key predators of mice. Some were in protected areas, others were in places where foxes are heavily hunted.

Over two years, he also trapped hundreds of mice — and voles, another small mammal — in the same plots, counted how many ticks were on them, and tested the ticks for infection with Lyme and two other disease-causing bacteria. To capture additional ticks, he dragged a blanket across the ground.

In the plots where predator activity was higher, he found only 10 to 20 percent as many newly hatched ticks on the mice. Thus, there would be fewer ticks to pass along pathogens to next generation of mice. In the study, the density of infected “nymphs,” as the adolescent ticks are called, was at 15 percent of levels in areas where foxes and stone martens were less active. “The predators appear to break the cycle of infection,’’ said Dr. Hofmeester, who earned his Ph.D. after the study.

Despite stuffing his pant legs into his socks and using permethrin, a tick repellent, he said he removed more than 100 ticks from his own body. Interestingly, the predator activity in Dr. Hofmeester’s plots did not decrease the density of the mouse population itself, as some ecologists had theorized it might. Instead, the lower rates of infected ticks, Dr. Hofmeester suggested in the paper, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, may be the result of small mammals curtailing their own movement when predators are around.

“This is the first paper to empirically show that predators are good for your health with respect to tick-borne pathogens,” said Dr. Taal Levi, an ecologist at Oregon State University who was not involved in the study. “We’ve had the theory but this kind of field work is really hard and takes years.” He also said of Dr. Hofmeester, “Wow, I have to send him an email.”

Habitat fragmentation, hunting and the removal of larger predators like cougars may all figure into the dwindling of small mammal predators like foxes, weasels, fishers and martens, Dr. Levi said. If the study’s results are borne out by more research, public health officials might be moved to try interventions like protecting foxes or factoring the habitat needs of particular predators into land-use decisions to foster their population size. Nothing else — like culling deer or spraying lawns with tick-killing pesticide — has worked so far to stem the incidence of tick-borne disease, which is spreading in the Midwestern United States, in parts of Canada and at higher altitudes across Europe.

“The takeaway is, we shouldn’t underestimate the role predators can play in reducing Lyme disease risk,” said Richard S. Ostfeld, a senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, who originally speculated on the importance of small mammal predators in a 2004 paper. “Let’s not discount these cryptic interactions that we don’t see very often unless we put camera traps in the woods.”

A correction was made on Aug. 3, 2017: Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article incorrectly described the number of newly hatched ticks found on mice in areas of a study where predator activity was higher. It was 10 to 20 percent, not 5 to 10 percent. The density of infected adolescent ticks in areas where foxes and stone martens were active was also incorrectly described. It was 15 percent, not 6 percent, of levels in areas where foxes and stone martens were less active."

Horrific footage shows obese 'Monster Foxes' being overbred in cruel fur farms - The Express, August 2017

"The harrowing clip shows the "monster foxes" with huge rolls of fat folding over their bodies and almost covering their eyes. The animals, which can weigh up to five times their natural weight, are being kept in small cages in the fur farms in Finland. Animal rights activists said the foxes are being fattened up so fur farmers can make as much money as possible"

Changes Coming: State Ban Could End Practice of Domesticating Foxes - Martinsville Bulletin, July 2017

"Should a fox be kept like a pet? The answer is no, according to a recent decision by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. On August 1, fox enthusiasts across the Commonwealth will be in for a big change, as they may no longer purchase the animals.  While those who own foxes before Aug. 1 may keep their pet, people hoping to welcome a “vulpes vulpes,” or domestic red fox, into their homes will be out of luck. It was only by accident that Virginia residents could adopt foxes in the first place.

“[Game and Inland Fisheries] originally designated breeds of red foxes that could be distinguished from wild foxes as domestic animals to allow fur farmers to raise non-natural color phases of domesticated foxes,” said David Whitehurst, VDGIF board member. “An unintended consequence of that action was to allow the public to keep red foxes as pets.”

Meet Wilf, the Pet Silver Fox Who Has Been Causing a Stir Round Sale - Manchester Evening News, July 2017

"A rare silver fox has been causing a furore in Trafford after he escaped from his owners. Wilf, who has a black and silver coat instead of traditional red, left residents in Sale scratching their heads after he was seen wandering around parks on Monday. Pictures of the creature were posted on Facebook and it was eventually discovered the fox was a domesticated pet. Owner Ellie Monaghan, 17, and older sister Jade drove around Sale attempting to trace him. The four-month old fox was eventually found in a park on Harley Road, close to Sale town centre"

*We can confirm that Wilf is now back home and secure within his enclosure.

Rare and Elusive Black Fox Spotted in Halifax, Again - Halifax Courier, June 2017

"The most recent sighting was reported by Elisabeth Turner, 44. She was flabbergasted when she spotted the elusive animal on her patio last year, initially thinking it could be a big cat. “I did a double take,” she said. “I told my husband, but he didn’t believe me.”"

She Rescues Foxes, But Lakeville Says She Has 2 Too Many - Pioneer Press, May 2017

"Mikayla Raines says her fight for foxes is not over. A year ago, Lakeville officials let Raines keep foxes that she rescues from fur farms — as long as she lives on her 10-acre property and does not have more than three of the animals at a time.

The city says she has not been living up to her end of the bargain and is now considering whether to revoke her interim-use permit. According to the city, Raines has been keeping more than the three foxes allowed.

The planning commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing about the alleged violation at 6 p.m. Thursday. The city council could vote on the matter at its May 15 meeting.
City Associate Planner Frank Dempsey said Wednesday that the city received a tip in June 2016 that Raines had more than three foxes. He said he visited Raines at her property and that she told him she had four foxes."

Are Black Foxes Breeding in Britain? New Sighting of Britain's Rarest Animal -  Daily Mail, April 2017

"A flurry of sightings of Britain's rarest animal has prompted speculation there is now a breeding pair of elusive black foxes. The stunning animal gets its unusual colouring from a super-rare genetic defect and has only been spotted a handful of times in recent history"

*This was a missing pet that is now secure within her enclosure, with a bit of assistance from Black Foxes UK. However, not all the melanistic foxes seen in Halifax are lost pets. We know it possible that some of the foxes seen are the potential descendants of those foxes rumoured to be released at the start of WWII - from an aspiring breeder who potentially sourced stock from a local fur farm. This would account for the high occurrence of melanism seen in foxes in the Halifax area. 

Why Domesticated Foxes are Genetically Fascinating (and Terrible Pets) - PBS Newshour, March 2017

"After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the domesticated fox experiment fell on hard times as public funding for the project evaporated. The researchers realized quickly that keeping more than 300 foxes is an expensive enterprise. In the 1990s, the lab switched to selling some of the foxes as fur pelts to sustain the breeding program. “The current situation is not catastrophic, but not stable at the same time,” Institute of Cytology and Genetics research assistant Anastasiya Kharlamova told BBC Earth last year. Now, the lab’s primary source of revenue is selling the foxes to people and organizations across the globe.One customer is the Judith A. Bassett Canid Education and Conservation Center, located near San Diego. The center keeps six foxes — five of which are domesticated — as ambassadors for their species, so that people can get an up-close-and-personal view of the animals"

Escaped fox Thor back home at Hoo Farm in Telford - with video and pictures - Shropshire Star, Feb 2017

"After days of roaming the streets of Telford, Thor the three-legged fox has now been reunited with his pals at Hoo Farm. The white four-year-old fox travelled about five miles from the farm in Telford on Saturday night, after he used a fallen tree to escape the fox enclosure. A live trap was used along with some food as bait and straw from his fox enclosure, which would smell of his home.Edward Dorrell, partner at Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, said: "He's been recaptured and he's now back in the enclosure" 

Fears grow for three-legged white fox missing in Telford - BBC, Jan 2017

"Concerns are growing for a three-legged platinum fox which has escaped from a Shropshire wildlife centre. Four-year-old Thor escaped from Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom, near Telford, on Saturday. Farm co-owner Edward Dorrell said he got out after a small branch fell on to his enclosure fence. "He must have jumped about 8ft on to the branch, which was pretty floppy. So that is still a hell of a jump," he said. There have been three sightings of Thor, an Arctic-silver fox cross, but staff are still searching for him" 

*Thor is now home safe and well (see above). 

Rare silver fox Jerry's great escape is over! - Examiner, Jan 2017

"Jerry went missing from Ponderosa in Heckmondwike. An unusual breed of fox who escaped from a farm in Heckmondwike was found safe and well. Jerry the silver fox disappeared from Ponderosa last Wednesday, having the decided the farm life was no longer for him. After a week of being on walkabouts, Jerry was discovered in Brighouse on Wednesday night and given an all-clear from the vets. A spokesperson for Ponderosa thanked the public for their help, without which they said would have made it “near impossible to find Jerry""

Have you seen Jerry? Silver fox goes on the run from Ponderosa - Examiner, Jan 2017

"He's left his twin brother behind at Ponderosa animal centre... The fox called Jerry has vanished from Ponderosa rural therapeutic centre and is now on the run. He is just seven months old and shares a cage with his twin brother, Bambi, but it’s not clear how he got out. He’s thought to have escaped on Wednesday morning and was last spotted in the Staincliffe area of Dewsbury. Farm manager Eve Fern said: “Jerry is not considered dangerous having the temperament of a native fox; however please do not approach him"

*Jerry is now home safe and well (see above). 

2016

Why You Shouldn't Get a Pet Fox, No Matter How Instagram Friendly They Are - Grazia Daily, November 2016

"Over the past five years, searches for ‘where to get a fox’ have gone up notably on Google. This is in line with a growing number of Instagram-famous foxes like Juniper Fox (one million followers), Penny the Fox (30k) and Yui and Enn (also 30k). The comments on these, admittedly very adorable, pictures of foxes vary from ‘omg so adorable’ to ‘omg can we get one?’. But, trust us on this, whilst you are welcome to admire these foxes from afar, you definitely shouldn't get one.

Juniper Fox’s ‘mom’ herself is the first person to say that foxes as pets aren’t something to seek out. According to her, Juniper comes from a line of 'tame' foxes that were bred her for fur, Juniper was domesticated and, according to Jessika, is 'not fit to live in the wild.’ "I don't want to promote them as pets,’ She told Viral Nova. ‘I don't want to see foxes end up in rescues or worse.’

‘Foxes smell.’ She said to Bored Panda. ‘Bad. Their urine and faeces smell like skunk mixed with ammonia. There is no way to ‘de-scent’ a fox. You cannot keep a fox indoors 24/7… Foxes are destructive, they will destroy things in your house. Foxes must be fed some raw meats and bone content in their diet. They also need taurine, or they can go blind, suffer from seizures, and even die…’

Dr. Ros Clubb, the senior scientific officer for wildlife at the RSPCA agrees. ‘What we’re trying to say to people is that if you think really hard about it, you probably don’t want one.’ She says exotic pets as animals is growing problem and, thanks to the internet, social media and celebrity exotic pet owners, she's seeing people seek out foxes, raccoons, raccoon dogs, civets and various primates as domestic pets.

‘We are worried that people are taking on the responsibility before they realise exactly what they have to do,’ She says. ‘By then it’s a bit too late and we get calls about abandoned animals because they actually aren’t the cute fluffy things the owners thought they would be. We’re trying to educate people and get them to think before they take the plunge"

Black fox is caught on camera by Paul Stevens on Portland - Dorset Echo, November 2016

"An elusive resident of Portland has been captured on camera. Portland Camera Club member Paul Stevens spotted this rare black-silver fox in a quarry on the isle. He couldn’t believe his eyes but luckily managed to take this snap as proof. His wife Lorraine first spotted the fox on Saturday, and Mr Stevens went to grab his camera. By the time he got there, the fox had disappeared- but luckily Mr Stevens managed to guess its direction of travel and managed to get a photo. "

*Freda had returned home and was once again secured within her enclosure by the time of this report. 

Russian Geneticist Repeats Dog Domestication With Foxes In Just Fifty Years - Phys.Org, September 2016

"A Russian geneticist, the BBC is reporting, replicated the process that led to the domestication of the dog, with foxes, over the course of just fifty years. Curious about the means by which dogs became domesticated, Dmitry Belyaev began a breeding program in the late 1950's aimed at replicating the process using foxes.

Foxes cannot be tamed, the conventional thinking goes—you can raise them in your house, feed them like babies and try to cuddle with them, but their wild nature will eventually win out—they will become unruly and eventually unwelcome pets. But what if the wildness was bred out of them? That is what Belyaev wondered, so he set to work on a very long term project—one that was very simple. He and his intern, Lyudmila Trut, wandered around Russia searching for foxes to start their experiment. Foxes were chosen based on their behavior in the presence of humans. Those that showed slightly more tolerance of humans were brought back to their Novosibirsk lab to serve as the start group. From there, the foxes were mated, and once again, those cubs that showed the most tolerance for humans were kept as part of the experiment while the others went on to become fur coats.

This process was repeated for a half-century—the research pair found that within just a few generations, the foxes had begun to lose their wildness and mistrust of humans. The fourth generation, they reported, showed traits that we see in modern dogs, such as tail wagging, seeking human contact and licking people. Over the course of 50 years, the foxes became friendly, their behavior nearly indistinguishable from domestic dogs. They changed physically, too; their ears drooped and their legs and snouts became shorter and their heads got wider. And it was not all on the outside—their adrenal glands became more active, resulting in higher levels of serotonin in their brains, which is known to mute aggressive behavior."

A Soviet scientist has created the only tame foxes in the World - BBC, September 2016

"In the 1950's a Soviet geneticist began an experiment in guided evolution. He wanted to show how domestication works. From the richly-plumed red fox to the big-eared fennec, foxes look adorable. Because of this, people are sometimes tempted to keep them as pets..."

Chesterfield charity helps exotic pets - Derbyshire Times, July 2016

Never mind cats and dogs... a Chesterfield-based charity is helping unusual pets.Encounter Exotics cares for and rehomes interesting animals including golden knee tarantula Gordon, Japanese raccoon dog Bear and silver fox Brynn... The charity was launched at the start of the year and is operated by Lee Holland, Wenzdi Bennett and Sam Stuart. Lee said: “We’re passionate about animals and love our jobs. “We take on the pets when their previous owners give them up for whatever reason.“We can give species – which don’t usually get help from larger animal charities like the RSPCA – the best possible care" 

Island foxes may be least variable of all wild animals - Science Daily, April 2016

"In comparison to their relatives on the mainland, the Channel Island foxes living on six of California's Channel Islands are dwarves, at two-thirds the size. The island foxes most likely evolved from gray foxes brought to the northern islands by humans over 7,000 years ago. Some think island foxes may have been partially domesticated by Native-Americans. Like many island species, they have little fear of humans."

Owner expresses relief after missing silver fox found - Dorset Echo, March 2016

"A domesticated silver fox that went missing on Portland for nearly a fortnight has been found. Freda, aged two, was reported missing by owner Maddie Bates on March 10.  Following twelve days of uncertainty and a social media appeal, her husband Dave found the fox in Portland Port.  Maddie said: "We've got her. She's driving home in Dave's car. I'm really pleased."The fox had been spotted at various locations around the island, including the Grove, Weston, and Portland Port"

Have you spotted this Silver fox? Portland owner pleas for information - Dorset Echo, March 2016

People on Portland are being asked to look out for a domesticated silver fox.  Maddie Bates, from the Grove, has been keeping Freda as a pet for the past two years. The animal, however, has been missing since Thursday, March 10. There have since been sightings of the fox in The Grove, Weston and Portland Port. Maddie said: "I'm getting a bit worried as she's getting further and further away. "It seems like she's got some friends. People are reporting she's been seen with a red fox."

* Freda was located and returned home safely a few days after this report (see above). 

Siberian Cupcakes’ educates about, & trains domesticated foxes - St George News, March 2016

"Ever think of a fox as a possible candidate for a search and rescue animal? This is what [one] couple... considered after hearing about foxes being raised in Russia as part of a domestication experiment. While initial plans didn’t quite work out as hoped, the couple, who currently reside in south-west Utah, have turned their passion for the little fluff balls into an effort to educate others about the foxes"

Tragedy as incredibly rare black fox struck by car and killed - Express, February 2016 

"An incredibly rare black fox has been tragically killed after it was struck by a car in Yorkshire. The animal, which was well-known in Halifax due to its startling jet black coat, was found dead by a council worker this morning. It is believed the fox was killed by a car, whose driver could not spot the mysterious animal in the dark"

*This fox was believed to be that of the famous "Black Fox Bob" (see below).

Pet Fox Yelvis Found Skinned at Taxidermist - CDA Press, January 2016

"Marie Rozell's heart broke twice this week. The first time was on Monday, when she discovered her beloved pet fox, Yelvis, had disappeared from his kennel. The second time was Tuesday, when she found him at a taxidermist, skinned for his fur.

"I woke up (Tuesday) morning to a text that said, 'I saw your fox dead on the side of Ohio Match Road and Highway 95 in front of the auto wrecking place,'" Rozell said Wednesday. She said an unknown person messaged her that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game had been contacted to conduct a biopsy on the animal, but when she called Fish and Game, she couldn't get a straight answer about whether they had her pet. She said she drove all around the area, frustrated with the false leads and not finding Yelvis' body.

Then an even worse message came through. "Then a text said, 'I'm sorry, I picked him up (Monday) morning and brought him into a taxidermist,'" she said. "He said he took him to a taxidermist to save his pelt."

Rare black fox takes on hot-blooded red rival in fierce fight...over a vixen - Daily Mail, January 2016

"The black fox and red vixen faced off on a shed roof in Hounslow, London. When the red male padded into view of the black fox, he leapt into action. Trevor Williams, of charity The Fox Project, said: 'In 27 years and dealing with some 10,000 foxes we have never had a black fox brought in'"

2015

Foxy Lady! Mother of two keeps two foxes as family pets and treats them just like her dogs - Daily Mail, October 2015

• "Tara White lives with two foxes at her home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The 27-year-old walks them, has taught them tricks and feeds them blueberries... [Tara] has won funding [from the Prince's Trust] to take the foxes to schools and local community groups"

Wildlife photographer captures amazing images of extremely rare black fox - Daily Mail, September 2015

"A wildlife photographer has captured these amazing images of an extremely rare black fox playing in his back garden. Robert Fuller was shocked when he heard the rare animal had been spotted by another nature enthusiast outside his flat in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and was prompted to start tracking it. The artist and photographer was inspired after seeing some shaky footage by Robert Burns and the pair began embarking on a three-month mission to study the fox and its habits"

*Sadly, this fox was later found to have been killed in a road traffic accident (see above).

Rare black fox captured on camera as it plays in nature enthusiasts garden - Daily Mail, July 2015

"Robert Burns noticed striking animal playing with another fox in his garden At first he thought it was a black cat but realised it was something rarer He set up his camera and captured the fox and vixen playing the next day It's actually red fox going through phase where colour of fur is extra dark"

* This is actually a silver fox (a red fox colour morph), not a cub going through a change in colour. 

Just Taking A Nap! Rare White Fox Cubs Are Spotted Basking In The Sun In The Backgarden Of A London Home - Mail Online, September 2019

"These bright white foxes would look more at home in the Arctic but the tiny cubs were spotted sleeping in a back garden in Brixton. The napping pair look more like Arctic foxes which are usually only found in extremely cold parts of the northern hemisphere.

However, their more likely to be albinos of the common red foxes that we see every night in Britain. Albinos are extremely rare in foxes, more so than in many other species, but it's even rarer to see two together as it's extremely unlikely that more than one will be born in a single litter. They're also all the more visible to predators so it's sadly uncommon for them to survive into adulthood. But these two can probably afford to be a little more carefree than some wild foxes as there are few predators in London that would pose a threat to them.

The cubs made their way into a garden in Brixton to make their bed for the night and were caught on camera by the owners. These two foxes, with their white fur, look as though they might be more at home in the arcticThese two foxes, with their white fur, look as though they might be more at home in the arctic where their coats would blend in perfectly with the icy landscape.

The rare albinos were actually spotted in a back garden in Brixton and pictured by the residents. There is plenty of long grass in the yard but they were found brazenly basking in the sun in the open

The foxes nestle up in a ball, pictured left, and seem to play with something in the long grass, right, as they chill out in the sun. And although their fur makes them more visible to predators that their red relatives, they seem pretty calm about the whole situation. The foxes nestle up in a ball, pictured left, and seem to play with something in the long grass, right, as they chill out in the sun. And although their fur makes them more visible to predators that their red relatives, they seem pretty calm about the whole situation."

Super rare black fox spotted in Coventry for the first time in years - Independant, June 2015

"A black fox, the rare product of a highly uncommon genetic defect, has been spotted in Coventry.Wendy Hier spotted the fox in a grassy area in the Walsgrave area of Coventry, but it ran away before she could take a picture."

The fox and the hound: Orphaned cub rescued from roadside accident bounces back to health thanks to it's new collie best friend - Daily Mail, May 2015

"Three-week-old fox found lying in road next to dead mother after crash. Young animal taken to vets before being adopted by couple in Germany. Fox, called Dinozzo, formed unlikely friendship with pair's collie dog. It now believes it is a dog and also plays with couple's piglets and cat"

Todd the fox who was rescued as a baby cub and thinks he is a dog now goes for walks on a lead and even wags his tail - Daily Mail, March 2015

"Todd the fox tamed after being rescued as cub and raised as domestic pet. Now 11-month-old animal behaves like a dog and wags his tail when happy. Also sleeps in a kennel, plays with dog toys and goes for walks in the park. Owner Emma D'Sylva, of Staffordshire, also keeps a skunk and a raccoon."

* This is a captive bred silver fox, not a native wild fox. 

Rescued animal Roxy becomes a family pet - Express, March 2015

"Grandad, I’m just taking the fox for a walk! Rescued animal Roxy becomes family pet. At first glance, four-year-old Isla Rowe looks like any youngster taking her dog for a walk. But on the end of the lead is Roxy, a fox rescued by Isla’s grandfather, Jeff Grewcock, in 2001. “We think she may be the oldest fox in UK captivity,” said Jeff of Roxy, who turns 14 tomorrow."

Extremely rare fox seen in Yosemite - First time in 100 years - National Geographic, February 2015

"One of the rarest animals in North America, the Sierra Nevada red fox, has been caught on camera in California's Yosemite National Park for the first time in nearly a century. Motion-sensitive cameras stationed in the northern part of the park captured two images—possibly of the same animal—one in December and one in January. The little-seen fox was sighted north of the park in 2010, but no one's seen it inside the park's boundaries since 1916. To say researchers are excited would be an understatement.

"Knowing that the animal is in the park is huge for us," said park wildlife biologist Sarah Stock...

The Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) is incredibly rare, with as few as 50 individuals thought to exist in North America. Prized for their vibrant coats, red fox populations were devastated by hunting and trapping during the 19th and 20th centuries... "Trapping was banned in 1974, so we actually have a pretty long history of impacting this animal," she said"

2014

Somewhere in Turkey a wild cat and a fox are best friend - Huffington Post, November 2014

"Cats and foxes are cute on their own, but together, they reach a new level of adorable. Take a look at this wild cat and fox's best-friendship, and tell us you don't agree. This duo was discovered by fishermen on the shores of Lake Van in Turkey, according to BuzzFeed. Photos of their friendship spread across the Internet last November, but the pictures resurfaced on Reddit today. And we literally can't look away."

Meet your new pet, a domesticated fox - Fast Company, October 2014

"Dogs have been evolving as human companions for at least about 14,000 years. Cats have lived with us for 12,000. But if you want something a little more cutting edge—and you’re willing to pay up— a pet fox might be just the thing. Domestication started just 55 years ago, but because Russian geneticists methodically bred just the friendliest foxes, a handful of charming, domesticated and trainable foxes are available today"

Is this Britain's friendliest fox? Pudding is so tame she can't be released back into the wild - August 2014

"Pudding the fox was abandoned to her mother in Yorkshire three years ago. The young vixen was taken to the National Fox Welfare Society in Rushden. Pudding failed to reintegrate to fox society preferring human company. Now the three-year-old fox has a growing legion of fans of Facebook."

Couple devastated after fox cub they nursed back to health is taken away - Daily Mail, July 2014

"Rocky was found on a road by Mark Lumsden and Louise Henderson, who took the cub home and nursed him back to health. He loves cuddles, chew toys and chasing his tail – but this is no pet puppy, this is Rocky the house-trained fox cub."

The tricky business of fox farming - The Herald Magazine, May 2014

"Muise already had a PhD, a family, a full-time job and a herd of beef cattle when he convinced wife June in 1984 they should get into the fox business. "I was doing research on light, the effects of light,” says Muise. “I had a student to do research and, then, there were a lot of farms here. We’d have a meeting, and we’d have 200 people. The price then was really high, so a lot of people jumped into it. I would go around to get data, but you couldn’t go on the farms at all times, so I said to June I’d like to start raising them.

“The reason I chose foxes is that they really react to light. As the days get longer, they start producing less melatonin, so they come in heat. Before the winter, when the days get shorter, they produce more melatonin, so they wouldn’t come in heat, but they produce more fur because of the melatonin.” The couple started with 10 females and four males. That first year, production was high and all the pups lived to maturity. The couple was hooked, and it helped that the family didn’t depend on the foxes for income"

Farley the famous fox goes missing - ITV, Feb 2014

"A domestic fox, made famous in a national advert has gone missing in Chesterfield. Ten month old Farley was hand reared by his owner Pam Mackinson after his mother abandoned him.High winds at the start of February forced open his enclosure and he escaped, leaving Pam worried about him, as he doesn't know how to hunt for food or care for himself properly in the wild"

*Sadly, Farley was later found deceased. 

Vader The Fox: Devastated Family Launch Appeal After Beloved Pet Is Euthanised Following 'False Bite Claim', HuffPost, February 2014

"Devastated Family Launch Appeal After Pet Is Euthanised Following 'False Bite Claim'. The owner of a silver fox, reared as a family pet, has revealed her devastation after the animal was taken away and euthanised. Vader was destroyed in Minot, North Dakota after an anonymous bite report was submitted to local police.

An online campaign has now been launched after his owners claimed the animal was put down "without just cause."

Eric and Tara Hiatt have told the Huffington Post UK their pet had never even left their home and that the anonymous police report followed threats from animal activists online who disagreed with the couple having a domestic fox."

Fox sets new record after being tracked for nearly 200 miles - Telegraph, Jan 2014

"An urban fox which travelled 195 miles to find a new home is believed to have set a new record for the longest recorded journey made by its species in the UK."

2013

Angelina really is a foxy lady! Scientists discover silver foxes share same facial features as a beautiful women - Daily Mail, November 2013

"A Russian experiment to breed friendlier foxes in 1959 suggests that an affable looking face is more desirable as it signifies sociable behaviour. Research by the University of Cambridge found attributes of a 'beautiful' fox face are similar to the features of an attractive human.  The presence of characteristics such as a soft jaw and small nose in children plays a role in dictating how a mother treats them, according to research."

Elusive Kirkburton black fox spotted in Highburton garden - Examiner, October 2013

"The mystery Kirkburton black fox has been spotted in a Highburton garden - foraging for food. The elusive animal was first seen in a field in Kirkburton and is believed to be a rare black fox, with possible ancestry stretching back to the Second World War."

Fox steals phone, send text in mysterious fox language - Huffington Post, August 2013

"Footage has emerged of a fox stealing a teenager's phone. After scurrying off with the boy's device, the sneaky beast then sent a taunting text. It read: "Jlv In ø \ a0ab 34348tu åaugjoi zølbmosdji jsøg ijio sjiw." Chilling."

Amazing moment a tiny fox with it's head stuck in a jar approaches two men for help - Daily Mail, June 2013

"Filmed on a Russian dirt road, this shows the wild fox overcome its shyness. Curiosity had got the better of the fox and it knew humans were its only help. One rescuer joked: 'Where's the thank you?' as it returned to the bushes."

Urban foxes: The facts and the fiction - Gaurdian, February 2013

"The attack last week on a baby in south-east London has led to them being described as a 'menace' and to be culled. But are they really a threat?"

The fox and the hound! Rescued Roxy becomes best pals with dogs at animal sanctuary - January 2013

"Roxy found nearly strangled hanging by a rope from a bridge. She walks on a lead, plays with dog toys and only eats cooked chicken."

Can I have a pet fox? - PopSci, January 2013

"How a furry-convention-attending, mid-western-accented fox owner teamed up with a bizarre Floridian exotic animal importer and a Soviet geneticist to bring pet foxes to your living room"

2012

How I trained my pet fox called Anna to be like a household pet dog - Daily Mail, November 2012 

"These remarkable pictures show how young Siberian scientist Irina Mukhamedshina, 22, has trained a fox to be as obedient as a dog. The experiment was on her own initiative, though she used foxes from a special Novosibirsk Institute of Cytology and Genetics farm, where research into taming the animals have provided remarkable insights into how - over many thousands of years - man domesticated wild animals into pets"

Extremely rare, extremely curious: Photographer captures enchanting images silver fox - Daily Mail, October 2012

"Too curious for his own good: Rare silver fox that has been hunted to near oblivion can't resist lure of a photographer."

Commuters late night brush with baby fox on the tube - Standard, August 2012

"They've invaded London's garden and even homes - now it seems urban foxes are taking over the tube. Gadget and gaming journalist Stephen Ebert and student Harriet Horn were travelling on the underground late last night when a fox suddenly came into their train and jumped onto a seat."

Rare black fox "likely to be from fur farm" scientists say - BBC, May 2012

"Scientists studying the body of a rare black fox killed on a Cambridgeshire road, say it may have originated from a Russian fur farm. It was identified as an 18-month-old male silver fox, a thick-furred species selectively bred in Russia to be tame.

Helen McRobie, from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said genetic mutations suggested it may be a hybrid between a silver fox and raccoon dog. She said it could have been brought to the UK as a pet which then escaped. Silver foxes vary in colour from silver-grey to black. They are native to Canada and Alaska, but have been farmed for their fur in Russia.

Mrs McRobie, a biomedical scientist, and technician Angela Wheatley, carried out a number of genetic tests when the animal was brought into their laboratory. "Analysis of a key pigmentation gene revealed two new mutations that have not yet been described in scientific literature," Mrs McRobie said. "More surprisingly, it revealed that they were a very close match to the same gene found in the raccoon dog."

Raccoon dogs are similar to foxes, but have shorter limbs. "They have been farmed with silver foxes in Russia and it seems that a hybridisation between the two species may possibly have occurred from a mating," she said.

While it is unclear what the black fox was doing in the Cambridgeshire countryside, Mrs McRobie thinks it is likely that the male would have mated with the common British red fox. She said that would result in offspring with black legs, a black tail and red body, known as smoky reds. Mrs McRobie is keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a smoky red fox.

*This was a known escapee, a captive bred silver fox and not a hybrid. 

Scientists want to unravel mystery behind rare black that died when hit by a car - Saffron Walden Reporter, March 2012

"The black fox of Bassingbourn which was killed by a car yesterday (Thursday) will be tested by scientists to see if the mystery behind its existence can be revealed. The fox was spotted in the area last week. But shortly afterwards, it was hit by a car between Royston and Bassingbourn. It has now been delivered to the Life Sciences Department at the Anglia Ruskin University, with plans to test it to discover the cause of the genetic mutation"

* This animal was a known lost pet. It was indeed a fur farm descendant and not a native fox. 

Mysterious white fox spotted on Kent farm where iconic TV show was filmed - Daily Mail, May 2012

"It is best known as the home of 1990s TV comedy The Darling Buds Of May, which threw a young Catherine Zeta-Jones into the public eye. But Buss Farm in Kent has now become a stomping ground for a mysterious white fox, which would look more at home on Frozen Planet than the classic TV show. The albino creature's coat is so white that the farm's owner thought it was a lamb until he saw it chasing down rabbits in his field."

Meet Pink Champagne Fox Miko - Sonyaz, February 2015

"Meet this Miko, a 4-month fox color “pink champagne”. Fox this color were first bred on the Canadian farm, one hundred years ago. They are so rare species that currently exist in the world only two such individuals: one lives in Ontario, and the other is Miko. Such foxes bred in captivity and contain only as pets in Canada. Attention sensitive souls, we prefer to warn you: this story is very sad and it ends badly. It also risks awakening in you a certain despair the human race.

The young woman and her fox quickly became inseparable. The young woman and her fox then decides to put Miko's beautiful eyes at the service of the animal cause! AInsi, Anda and Miko give lectures to raise awareness about the cruelty and mistreatment of animals on fur farms. She goes to exhibitions with him, she visits schools, she continues to fight and campaign for animal rights. Articles in magazines, and even a CBC documentary, "The World of Exotic Pets", are devoted to him, in order to highlight their work in raising awareness to campaign against fur farms...

Meet this Miko, a 4-month fox color “pink champagne”. Fox this color were first bred on the Canadian farm, one hundred years ago. They are so rare species that currently exist in the world only two such individuals: one lives in Ontario, and the other is Miko. Such foxes bred in captivity and contain only as pets in Canada. Attention sensitive souls, we prefer to warn you: this story is very sad and it ends badly. It also risks awakening in you a certain despair the human race.

And then, on February 4, 2015, there was a tragedy. While she's in progress, someone steals the fox. When Anda returns home, she finds the planks of her shed torn off, and the fox missing. The beautiful animal's bloodied corpse will be found in a black garbage bag in the backyard of a property. "That day, everyone stopped," Anda tells us in her message to the editor. Miko was my pillar, my hope, my best friend. He taught me so much, without speaking… " Was this foolish murder the work of the people who get rich in the animal fur trade? A story of jealousy, a person who wanted to hurt him? Or is it simply the work of a madman? We may never know. A criminal investigation has been opened by the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."

Guarding The Fox House: A Famous Animal Experiment Is In Peril, After 54 Years Of Work - SLATE, March 2021

"The battered Volga bounces us along the buckled roads, frozen and thawed over long Siberian winters. With me in the van are geneticist Lyudmila Trut and her assistant Anastāsiya Kharlamova, whom I met earlier that morning at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Siberia.  Now in her 70s, Trut, a petite woman in a blue pinstripe jacket and light gray pants, peers through thick glasses, trying to read a scientific paper as we drive. A few minutes later, the driver stops at the dented metal gate to the experimental farm, and Trut leads the way down dilapidated rows of narrow barracks-style sheds, morning glories sprouting from cracks in the paved walkways. The farm houses 3,000 foxes, each open-air wooden shed holding 100 or so animals in adjacent wire cages. The three of us put on white lab coats and prepare to greet the foxes."

Is it an omen? Mysterious black fox reappears in British countryside for first time since 2008 - Daily Mail, March 2012

"John Moore from Bassingbourn, near Royston, Herts, saw the creature, with its distinctive white-tipped tail, in fields behind his house. Only one other black fox has been spotted in Britain before in Preston."

Largest fox killed in UK shot on Aberdeenshire farm - BBC, March 2012

"A fox believed to be the biggest killed in Britain was shot after attacking lambs on an Aberdeenshire farm. It weighed 38lbs 1oz (17.2kg) and was 4ft 9in (1.4m) from nose to the tip of its tail. On average the animals tend to weigh up to about 15lbs (6.8kg)."

Ramsgate man describes pet foxes as 'like a puppy crossed with a cat' - Kent Live, March 2012

"They are not everyone’s idea of a perfect pet but an animal lover from Ramsgate says his foxes are just fantastic. Niels Peters, 30, of Hollicondane Road, Ramsgate keeps two pet American red foxes – Max and Roxy – as pets, which he has had since they were kits. Exotic-pet nut Niels says his foxy friends which he says can provoke a mixed reaction from people"

2011

New museum displays highlight story of fox and mink farming in isles - Shetland Times, April 2011

"Shetland Museum this week unveiled three new focus display cases within the galleries, including an 18th century waistcoat, a folding “scrap screen” and a number of items portraying the story of fox and mink farming in Shetland. The first new display, next to the textile area in the upper gallery, features items telling the story of fox and mink farming in Shetland from the 1930s to the 1970s. Fur was a popular fashion accessory and the humane farming of these animals contributed to Shetland’s involvement in the fur trade"

Red and Arctic foxes clash in Russia - BBC, April 2011

"Russia's Arctic foxes are under threat from an expanding population of red foxes, according to scientists. For the first time, a red fox has been observed intruding on an Arctic fox breeding den in Russia's far north. The Arctic fox abandoned its den to the dominant intruder, leaving pups to fend for themselves. Researchers say this is evidence that red foxes are expelling Arctic foxes as a warming climate allows them to survive much further north."

Animal Domestication: Taming the Wild - National Geographic, March 2011

"We're standing between two long rows of similar crates on a farm just outside the city of Novosibirsk, in southern Siberia...Hidden away on this overgrown property, flanked by birch forests and barred by a rusty metal gate, he and several hundred of his relatives are the only population of domesticated silver foxes in the world"

It's a dog's life for Miss Snooks - the fox who spends her day snoozing on the sofa of her own flat after being taken in as a pet - Daily Mail, Febuary 2011

"As far as pampered pets go, Miss Snooks has it all. The only thing that sets her apart from other pets, however, is that she's a fox. Living in her own one-bedroom flat, she spends all day dozing on the sofa in between tucking into her favourite meal of roast chicken cooked in honey. Occasionally, she may play hide-and-seek in a den of blankets.

Seen here getting cosy with master Steve on a sofa and still up to her old tricks, snooty Miss Snooks lives the high life. The vixen was taken in seven years ago by 58-year-old Steve and his wife Nola, 56. Abandoned by her mother, a local who found her alone took the defenceless cub to animal lover Steve's pet shop in Hassocks, East Sussex"

Fox may have been prehistoric man's best friend - Daily Mail, January 2011

"Early man may have preferred the fox as a pet rather than dogs, new findings suggest. Researchers analysing remains at a prehistoric burial ground in Jordan have uncovered a grave in which a fox was buried with a human, dated thousands of years before dogs were kept as companions. The University of Cambridge-led team believes that the unprecedented case - in which the remains of the animal and the man were then partially transferred to an adjacent grave - points to some kind of emotional link between human and fox."

Fox shoots man: Wounded creature pulls trigger on rifle hunter was using to finish him off - Daily Mail, January 2011

"A hunter became the hunted after a fox managed to shoot him with his own gun. The stricken animal somehow pulled the trigger of the man’s shotgun with its paw, hitting him in the leg. The bizarre incident happened as the unnamed 40-year-old hunter tried to kill the fox with the butt of his gun after shooting it from a distance."

2010

Fur farm foxes trained to combat mole rat plague - Reuters, July 2010

 "Authorities in China’s far west have bred and trained “an army” of silver foxes bought from a fur farm to fight a plague of rats threatening a huge expanse of grasslands, state media said on Wednesday. The Xinjiang government bought 20 foxes in 2004 and they have since increased to 284 and been released into the wild, the official Xinhua news agency said.

“Foxes are excellent natural predators of the rodent. One fox can catch about 20 rats per day. There has been a decline in the rat population in several counties where the measure has been adopted,” it quoted official Ni Yifei as saying. Rat numbers have exploded due to unusually dry conditions and threaten more than 5.5 million hectares of grasslands, the report said. In one of the areas where the foxes have been released, rat numbers have dropped 70 percent, it added. “The silver fox was chosen to be the rat fighter for its distinctive ability to run, hunt and live under the harsh living conditions on the prairie,” Ni said"

Nature UK: Have you seen a black fox? - BBC, May 2010

 "Over 20 years ago I was tipped off about an incredibly rare black fox in southern England and was lucky enough to film it. I have not seen one since... The Springwatch team have been searching all over the country to see if any are alive today, and hopefully to film one, but unfortunately the trail has gone cold. Although I've heard rumours of sightings here and there, I'm intrigued to know whether or not there are any living examples of these near mythical beasts. And I really need your help. If you have ANY information about a black fox, please, please let us know by commenting below."

2008

Unlucky rare black fox spotted in Britain - The Daily Mail, September 2008

"A black fox has been found dead in a field, just weeks after one was spotted in a Lancashire graveyard. A woman who lives on a farm in Heapey, near Chorley, contacted the Evening Post to say she had found the dead young creature in her field last week. It follows the sighting of a black fox – thought to be the first of its kind seen in this country – in a church yard in Chorley at the beginning of the month. The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I think it might have starved or I suppose it could have been poisoned – it certainly hadn't been shot – or it could've been ill... " The woman kept hold of the fox's body, which had decomposed except for the tail, in case the Wildlife Trust wanted to investigate"

Unlucky rare black fox spotted in Britain - Telegraph, September 2008

"A rare black fox has been captured on camera in Britain for what is thought to be the first time. Kevin Hehir, 48, was astonished when he spotted the fox while out walking. The black fox is so rare that wildlife experts believe there are only a handful of the breed left in the country."

More black fox videos emerge  - BBC, September 2008

"A BBC News website reader has sent in footage filmed in 2005 of what he says is a black fox cub. Stephen Webb from Surrey says that the mother of the cub is a red fox which lived in his garden and regularly gave birth to black cubs."

2006

Rare Pregnant Vixen Caught in Snare - National Anti Snaring Campaign, April 2006

"This rare silver coloured and lactating vixen has died in a snare leaving her starving young to die. Not only is this an indication of the snarer's inhumanity, but shows how indiscriminate and detrimental to conservation snares are. The snare which killed the fox was also set in a fence line, contrary to Defra's new code"

1999

Early Canid Domestication: The Farm-Fox Experiment - American Scientist, March 1999

"Foxes bred for tamability in a 40-year experiment exhibit remarkable transformations that suggest an interplay between behavioral genetics and development... Belyaev believed that the patterns of changes observed in domesticated animals resulted from genetic changes that occurred in the course of selection. Belyaev, however, believed that the key factor selected for was not size or reproduction, but behavior—specifically amenability to domestication, or tamability"

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