Tame foxes

[Muninn]

During the Communist regime in Russia, there were experiments to tame wild foxes. I just thought, what with the affinity some people have here for foxes, it might be interesting.

D. K. Belyaev and his colleagues took captive silver foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and set out systematically to breed for tameness. They succeeded, dramatically. By mating together the tamest incividuals of each generation, Belyaev had, within 20 years, produced foxes that behaved like Border collies, actively seeking human company and wagging their tails when approached. That is not very surprising, although the speed with which it happened may be. Less expected were the by-products of selection for tameness. These genetically tamed foxes not only behaved like collies, they looked like collies. They grew black and white coats, with white face patches and muzzles. Instead of the characteristic pricked ears of a wild fox, they developed 'loveable' floppy ears. Their reproductive hormone balance changed, and they assumed the habit of breeding all the year round instead of in a breeding season.

[Holyman83]

aww tame foxies, but it seem they have more in common with a Border collie then a Fox now. I still rather have a fox that lived in the wild trusted me and visited me.

[Tabris_The_17th]

That's really interesting! Funny how they changed to look more like collies. I'm more for leaving the wild animals right where they are for their own sakes. Still, I can't deny it would rock to own a tame fox (that looked like a fox )

[The MAZZTer]

I think this was already said here?

Either that or I read on Slashdot at one point.

[Zaaphod]

Hmm.. intriguing.

[Foxhound]

The unfortunate part is that they aren't truly foxes, but more fox-like. Though I do find it interesting. And a pet fox would always be cool. Though they'd wreck the house and aren't the most loveable sort.

[Angstwolf]

There's a red fox living somewhere on our property. It comes into the backyard every once in a while. I sort of wish it was tame.

[Tum0spoo]

I want to see this fox.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdPI50E0Zdo

[Luke B.]

Heh, just had the thought, that if Millie heard anyone call her 'tame', she'd bite them.

[Loeln]

Congratulations, Russia, on your new domestic dog?

Relatively quick, actually.

[War Child]

Its an iteresting result, although like all things russia has ever tried it was a failure. The project was to make a tame fox to help the fur industry. Kind of pointless if the tamed fox doesn't have the same fur as they need.

[Angstwolf]

Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure I saw this on the History Channel a year or so ago. It was a pretty interesting show if I recall.

[Rooster]

I saw some dude here in Leeds walking a fox on a leash in Hyde Park. I told one of the people I know in my animal rights group and she said that he found it injured as a pup and took it home where his dog raised it as a dog.

Apparently it's really tame, but doesn't like strangers.

I also saw a dude walking a tabby cat in a similar fashion, but he was just French

[Tum0spoo]

I saw some dude here in Leeds walking a fox on a leash in Hyde Park. I told one of the people I know in my animal rights group and she said that he found it injured as a pup and took it home where his dog raised it as a dog.

It's natural instincts should still be there though. that's like the tigers and other animals raised from birth for show business. They're still wild animals and have the possibility of turning on you. Breading for domestication is trickier than all that.

[Holyman83]

I think a fox is far more likely to just run away rather than attack his owner tho. Unless some one is walking there pet mice around on a lease, but then you have a lot of cats to worry about too.