User submission

269.8K

Meet Juniper, The Pet Fox Who’s Basically An Orange Dog

We first met Juniper the fox on Instagram, where we saw her frolicking on her mom’s bed, and instantly fell in love. Who was this cute fox? So we decided to reach out to her owner, who gave us the full scoop!

“Foxes have a very high prey drive, meaning that they will attempt to hunt due to their natural instincts,” the pet fox’s mom told Bored Panda when we asked her about the video. “Juniper and all foxes pounce in this way when they hear a scratching noise which to them resembles the sound of a mouse under the snow or ground.”

Update: Juniper’s mom makes it clear on her Instagram that having a fox as pet is not just like having a dog or a cat: “Fox pets smell. Bad. Their urine and feces smell like skunk mixed with ammonia. There is no way to ‘de-scent’ a domestic fox. You cannot keep a fox indoors 24/7… Foxes as pets 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…” Read this before you even consider trying to get a fox for a pet!

More info: Instagram

This is Juniper, the fox that just can’t stop playing

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-19

Everything she does, she does with a smile

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-7

When we saw this video, we had to ask what she was up to!

“Foxes have a very high prey drive,” Juniper’s mom told Bored Panda

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-9

This means “that they will attempt to hunt due to their natural instincts”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-10

“Juniper and all foxes pounce in this way when they hear a scratching noise…”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-12

“…which to them resembles the sound of a mouse under the snow or ground”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-2

But just because she’s so cute doesn’t mean that it’s easy to have a fox as a pet!

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-35

“Raising a fox is extremely difficult, they’re nippy and noises and smelly”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-25

“When she was growing up I would take her everywhere with me”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-28

“She got really accustom to car rides and people, she loves both”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-36

“Her favorite game is to have someone chase her through the house…”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-5

“…and then turn around and run away from her so she can chase them”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-6

“It’s a cute little game of tag”

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-11

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-20

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-37

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-18

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-34

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-22

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-13

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-15

juniper-fox-happiest-instagram-33

270Kviews

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

M.S. 8 years ago

I love the photos. Juniper is gorgeous. I have a request, though: A lot of people, especially young people, will see this post, fall in love with Juniper, and try to get a fox as a pet thus it would be very helpful if you could edit this post to explain in more detail why it definitely is not a good idea to try and raise a fox as a pet. Thank you! :)

70points

VivianeKatz 8 years ago

Good point. I'm really glad she mentions that foxes are difficult pets. If I wanted something exotic, I would get a domestic animal that looks exotic. Examples include Abyssinian cats or Shiba Inu dogs which look like foxes. (Even then, dogs require socializing with humans from a young age, plus training and patience as puppies).

31points

Load More Replies...

JohnLKelly 8 years ago

Most people fail to realize that an animal's genes play a huge part in how they act. Ground squirrels and Meerkats are lovable to watch, but they will try to dig into everything, causing a lot of damage. It takes many generations, and selective breeding to come up with a fox that is like dogs. The Siberian Arctic Fox project has proven that only by patient selection will they ever be the ideal pets. And remember, dogs have been around humans for over 40,000 years. While great apes are the closest relative to humans, the dog is closer in interacting with us. I'll take my CharlieK any day over anything else. Also, both foxes and dogs are of the genetic family Canidae, so they will also share the same results of domestication: droopy ears, tail, color of coat, and many others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipSTntA_Znw

3points

FionaMessenger 8 years ago

Well said.

-1point

MónicaElisabethSacco 8 years ago

Beautiful Juniper! Even if it's not a good idea to rise a wild animal as a pet, I fully understand Juniper's mom: foxes are lovely and they indeed grow to love their human companions. It's hard to say "no" to such a glance or smile. Foxes must be protected from dogs (they aren't very good friends in Nature) but can learn to live with their bigger furry relatives. Usually, they go along better with cats. There's been a 20-year experiment in Siberia, where the scientists raised foxes who weren't scared by humans. The comeout was that the offspring of such foxes became domestic and tame, their ears fell down and their eyes turned darker, and let their masters to bear them in arms, just like any dog-puppy. So foxes, as well as wolves, can be tamed or decide to tame themselves. Anyway, it's not the case to go finding foxes to rise at home. Wild life deserves to remain wild.

29points

BobbiNewell 8 years ago

As I recall from an article in National Geographic Magazine several years ago, the foxes in the experiment were chosen for their friendliness toward humans, and each generation was bred for this trait. The facility that is engaged in this experiment had started selling domesticated foxes that fell short of the program's requirements, but were still extremely human-oriented. I am curious whether Juniper is a wild fox, or one of the domesticated foxes. Making such a distinction would help inform readers and viewers.

11points

Load More Replies...

Marina Vagapova 8 years ago

You forgot another part of experiment, when foxes were selected toward their aggressive behavior. Right now, scientists has 3 groups to compare social and hunting behavior: human-friendly foxes, normal foxes (untouched group) and human-aggressive foxes. Experiments show the result that normal foxes are making the best in making decisions as aggressive are clouded by rage and friendly became too human dependent.

1point

sebaschan 8 years ago

so true. some I know would actually look for animals to raise from the wild. one found a wolf pup and raised it... until it ate the furniture. then they took it to the vet, who released it

-1point

Arty 8 years ago

I wonder how she got it in the first place??

9points

MartynaBoszko 8 years ago

There are many ways. They are often rescued after some kind of accident. Some animals that survive stuff like being hit by a car are not capable of staying alive in the wild anymore and end up in sanctuaries or are taken home by people. Or you can just buy one. There are "tame" foxes for sale.

5points

Load More Replies...

Load More Comments

POST

M.S. 8 years ago

70points

VivianeKatz 8 years ago

31points

Load More Replies...

JohnLKelly 8 years ago

3points

FionaMessenger 8 years ago

Well said.

-1point

MónicaElisabethSacco 8 years ago

29points

BobbiNewell 8 years ago

11points

Load More Replies...

Marina Vagapova 8 years ago

1point

sebaschan 8 years ago

so true. some I know would actually look for animals to raise from the wild. one found a wolf pup and raised it... until it ate the furniture. then they took it to the vet, who released it

-1point

Arty 8 years ago

I wonder how she got it in the first place??

9points

MartynaBoszko 8 years ago

5points

Load More Replies...

Load More Comments

Meet Juniper, The Pet Fox Who’s Basically An Orange Dog

This is Juniper, the fox that just can’t stop playing

Everything she does, she does with a smile

When we saw this video, we had to ask what she was up to!

“Foxes have a very high prey drive,” Juniper’s mom told Bored Panda

This means “that they will attempt to hunt due to their natural instincts”

“Juniper and all foxes pounce in this way when they hear a scratching noise…”

“…which to them resembles the sound of a mouse under the snow or ground”

But just because she’s so cute doesn’t mean that it’s easy to have a fox as a pet!

“Raising a fox is extremely difficult, they’re nippy and noises and smelly”

“When she was growing up I would take her everywhere with me”

“She got really accustom to car rides and people, she loves both”

“Her favorite game is to have someone chase her through the house…”

“…and then turn around and run away from her so she can chase them”

“It’s a cute little game of tag”

Games

Dainius

Dainius