Outfoxing the wild: How Russian domesticated foxes could save lives

For generations, their fur was worn on collars and coats and they’ve been portrayed as sly, conniving, wily characters in popular culture. But, as KPBS’s Maya Trabulsi reports, a rescue sanctuary in Santa Ysabel wants to show the world that foxes, although mischievous, have so much more to share, including their potentially life-saving skills.

[@salzeda6295]

I hope the Russian program is able to endure into the future. I know we're still a ways off from *full* domestication, but I would love having a friendly, mischievous little fox buddy to keep me company. Just look at those adorable little fellas. Imagine, the loyalty and intelligence of a dog combined with the curiosity and playfulness of a cat!

[@johnr797]

Foxes raised from birth are a handful but still pretty great. I suspect for the most part full-on domestication, as much as it can be quantified, will require introduction to people's homes to develop much further than it has from the selective breeding program. It will likely need to be gradual though so that for people with little to no animal care experience they are a "fox ready out of the box" :p

[@theminister1154]

I hear the problem with them is they are super duper duper duper stinky. Not really a pet you would bring in the house. They're pretty cool though, good personalities. I sometimes hang out for as much as 10 minutes with a fox here in Virginia. I don't feed em or anything, they just chill on one side of the yard or field while I'm on another.

[@articat568]

@@theminister1154by the 4th generation they lost that musk according to the researchers. The problem is that the reason these foxes were bread wasn’t to domesticate them persay, It the 50s in Russian they killed foxes for their fur, But the foxes were to hard to deal with which is why they brought the scientists in, Now they’re not breeding for fur and the reasons for this taming has changed, Now the Russian government has a major control on this and don’t want Americans to have what they’ve done, And they sterilize the few they allow to go the the us.

[@AboveW]

​@@theminister1154 According to the researchers the 40th generation of these foxes have lost the musky fox smell so that's pretty cool. I can imagine what they'll be like in a couple of decades.

[@theminister1154]

@@AboveW REally? NEAT! They seem so fun.

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

This basically a faster, more organized version of how humans domesticated dogs and cats, I don’t see the problem with it besides maybe people adopting a fox unaware of how to take care of it

[@johnr797]

Seems like that's the only reason they're not available to the general public right now. Basically just like late-stage debugging a video game. Foxes are already commonly raised without much issue, it's just better to avoid people having any problems that they wouldn't have with getting a puppy

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

@@johnr797 foxes are bo more than a prototype dog running on cat software using a dolphin soundbox, of course it needs debugging

[@johnr797]

@@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae dolphin audio is not a bug it's a feature

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

@@johnr797 ™️

[@siberiancupcakesjabcecc4112]

Thank you for sharing the unique work we are doing at our center!

[@Randomasscat]

Y'all's work with these little fellas is outstanding! I bet a lot of people are eager to know how this will amount to in the future. Best wishes!

[@TheBandit7613]

I have a small population of fox friends here in Las Vegas. We have been friends for 20 years. These are nocturnal kit foxes (about the size of housecats) I call them and they come running. I've been thru several generations.

[@beams098]

I never knew foxes were viewed in a negative way

[@agme8045]

They aren’t, as they said in the video, they are seen as a source of fur. I don’t think people dislike them in general, maybe some farmers or something

[@theminister1154]

There's a reason fox in the hen house is a phrase.

[@dio8636]

Super interesting! I've been fascinated by the program for over a decade and every time I find new info I'm just so happy! Thank you guys for covering it. Really hope the program can continue and that these rescue foxes become a thing

[@delucaluigi2]

4:50 You forgot something important about training foxes. Traninig them is another tool to set more receptive-to-human-instruction foxes from less receptive ones. Use training results as a breeding decision remark. This could be a way not only to preserve friendliness in foxes, genetically, but also select them to make them more emotionally available to humans like dogs are.

[@Shabidoo1]

Such a fantastic organization.

[@sophietessier8998]

I find it really cool. Since the human won't leave nature alone, i wish we could domesticate more animal to make it more compatible with our life style and of course also change our way for them. Like Fox detective / Fox savior etc... Same could happen for some type of birds like crow. MY grand pa had a furret that was used to chase rat and was super friendly lived in the house like a cat. Since I always believe that animals and human could be partner.

[@johnr797]

Crows especially are eminently trainable. Smarter than a 7 year old human on average, and one of the very few animals besides humans to make and use tools.

[@Maspets]

We won't leave nature alone? What are we supposed to do blast ourselves off to the moon?

[@SaulFoxTV.]

adorable!

[@kathleencolwell8947]

This is so enjoyable. I love foxes. I think I need one❤

[@dickditore8415]

where is this and what can one person do to help?

[@omarelidrissi3983]

The question is what's the fox say?

[@mikuhatsune8121]

I love Fox Forever

[@alvegutt42]

foxes are so darn cute

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

I want one, one day.

[@theway3031]

American Eskimo dogs look really close to a fox

[@derekwilson5812]

I have a friend that has been breeding kits here in Ohio. I would be super excited to connect you to him!

[@time2vhow]

i want one 😭

[@bussi7859]

They don’t bite but they still piss and crap on the carpets

[@rursus8354]

Pling plong. 🔕

[@MangoIsLove55]

So floofy

[@lonniesmith352]

I really wouldn’t call this evolution but human intervention

[@bawbzzz4020]

A lot of evolution was pioneered by humans

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

Wait until you find out that humans did the same thing with wolves(they’re called dogs)

[@Latenivenatrix_Mcmasterae]

@@bawbzzz4020ehold, the common household dog! Edit: and cats I guess but they domesticated themselves

[@major_kukri2430]

You don't know what evolution is then. Evolution can be driven by nature or by humans. The latter is what's happening to these foxes.

[@blackdereker4023]

It's still evolution, it's just quicker and on a selected path.

[@Drcragory]

North America should start its own program. Domesticate our wild foxes.

[@adayexpired6370]

I wish we would domesticate more animals. It’s got too many moral ethical problems for modern people, but, domesticated animals seem less in danger of extinction. But then again, I admittedly probably just selfishly want more cute furry critters for pets.

[@clanmclaren1244]

Just keep them away from the Vodka😁