Fennec Fox is a native of Sahara, the large unending stretch of sand. Its extra big ears are an adaptation to its hot habitat for they keep it cool by dispersing heat. The animal’s thick fur coat insulates it against the heat of the day and cold of the night. It sleeps during much of the hot day of the desert, and forages for food during the cool nights. Like many other animals, fennec foxes claim residential rights to particular areas by marking the place with their urine scent.
Many people find the petite fennec foxes an ideal choice as pets. They are small and cute and their extra large ears only add to their charm. They share some characteristics and behavioral patterns with dogs, but are more difficult to train because they are not domestic animals by nature.
Since fennec foxes are not an endangered species threatened with extinction, in many countries it is legal to keep them as pets. In America, many states allow its raising as a pet, though in some states, including California, it is illegal. Before you buy a fennec fox to kiss and cuddle, remember to check whether your place of residence allows you to keep them.
Fennec foxes have their special way of letting you know when they are scared. When frightened, they emit a characteristic odor from a gland situated on their tail. It is no malodor and so will not embarrass you even if you have a guest, but an experienced owner of a fennec fox can recognize the smell. It will help you to avoid a similar situation in future, so far as you are able to correctly understand what has frightened the animal.
These big eared cuties are a lot of fun to be with but you also have to be quite careful around them. They are so fast that they will be underneath your feet one second and in a precarious position atop a toy or a book in the next instant. And they are so silent and soft that you may not notice when they are between your feet. The risk here is of two types – you may trip and fall by stepping on the animal and it may get badly injured by getting trampled underfoot.
And you will have to spend far more time with a fennec fox than you will have to spend with a cat or a dog. They continue to retain something of the wild even after many days of stay in a home. So you have to keep on playing with it to make it adjust to its new surroundings. If you are lax in interacting with it, its wild characteristics may surface and if you stay away for too long, it will not recognize you when you return.
And you should ensure that every chewable thing like toys, coins, jewelry, spoons, reading glasses, books, plugs, and wires should be out of reach of your pet fennec fox. They love chewing everything that they can lay their hands on. Again, the resultant problem will be of two types. You will lose some of your precious things and your pet will end up at the vet’s.