The concept of "breeds" in wild animals may seem unusual. After all, we’re used to hearing about dog breeds or cattle breeds—not fox breeds! But foxes, especially the North American red fox, have a fascinating story of domestication and selective breeding that has led to the creation of unique lineages with distinct traits and purposes. Just as wild boars evolved into domesticated pigs with a variety of colours and patterns, the once-wild red fox has followed a similar path, resulting in "breeds" that look, act, and serve purposes very different from their wild ancestors.
So, how did foxes make this journey from wild animals to what some might consider domesticated "breeds", e.g.,"don't expect your farm rescue to want affection because the media says some foxes are domesticated—there are "breed" differences to consider"? Let’s dive into the remarkable history and science behind the modern silver fox and find out!
Wild North American Red Fox: The Starting Point
The story of domesticated foxes begins with the North American red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a common species found throughout North America and Canada. Originally classified as Vulpes fulva, this fox naturally occurs in three primary colour morphs: red, cross, and silver.
When fur farming began in North America in the 1800s, foxes became a valuable resource, particularly those with the rare and coveted silver colour morph. The demand for fox fur kicked off a phenomenon known as the “silver rush.” This period marked the beginning of intensive breeding programs that would shape foxes for generations to come, both in terms of their physical appearance and, later, their behaviour.
The Silver Fox: Selectively Bred for Fur Quality
From the initial wild red fox, fur farmers selectively bred foxes with specific physical traits—primarily luxurious, dark fur that could vary in colour and quality. Over time, this selective breeding produced the farmed silver fox, a lineage that was highly valued for its fur, which remains a staple of the fur trade to this day.
Through generations of selective breeding, farmed silver foxes have developed over 70 colour variations, a huge contrast to the limited range found in wild red foxes. This diversity in colour and pattern echoes the transformation seen in domesticated livestock, like pigs or cattle, where commercial interests drive the selection of particular traits.
While fur farming played a key role in the commercialisation of silver foxes, it may have also helped prevent the extinction of certain wild populations. The rare North American wild subspecies of foxes, which have not been influenced by farmed genetics, remain endangered, with fewer than 20-40 breeding pairs left across two protected subspecies.
Domestication Research: Tameness and Aggression
The domestication of the silver fox began over a century ago, with fur farmers selectively breeding wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) for desirable fur traits. In Russia, the famous fox domestication experiment extended beyond fur to focus on behaviour, specifically tameness and reduced aggression. By selecting foxes that were less fearful and aggressive towards humans, breeders created foxes that were more docile and better suited for human interaction, while still retaining some wild instincts.
Today, the domesticated silver fox is a key subject in research, offering insights into how both physical and behavioural traits can be cultivated through selective breeding. These foxes provide valuable information not only on domestication itself but also on the genetic and behavioural changes that accompany it. They are used in studies related to animal behaviour, genetics, and even human health, making them a unique model for understanding the broader impacts of domestication.
Exotic Pet Trade: Foxes and Exotic Pet Keeping
The silver fox and other domesticated foxes have become increasingly popular within the exotic pet trade, attracting individuals who are drawn to the idea of owning a fox as a unique companion animal. While foxes have historically been wild animals, the domesticated strains bred for fur have led to a growing niche market for these animals as pets—being cheaper and easier to obtain than the Russian domesticated foxes. However, the exotic pet trade involving foxes is controversial due to concerns about animal welfare and the challenges of keeping them in domestic environments.
They are uniquely vulpine—highly energetic, have strong territorial instincts, and can be destructive if their needs aren't met. Additionally, laws regulating the ownership of exotic pets vary by country and region, with some places requiring specific permits to own foxes. This has created a complex situation where foxes bred for fur are often kept as pets in private homes, but not always under ideal conditions
Breed: A Term of Controversy in Zoology
While the term "breed" is common in domestic animals, it remains contentious in zoology when applied to wild species like foxes. "Breed" doesn’t hold the same biological precision as taxonomic classification; instead, it reflects consensus among breeders.
"Breed - a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection." - Oxford Dictionary
"The word breed has no biological meaning; it is bandied about by different classes of men in different places in the world without uniform regard to either type or kinship of the animals referred to. Its whole meaning is entirely dependent on the action of the rules committee of the breed association. A breed is whatever the breeders want to call it, there are no natural boundaries, and no arbitrary ones that are universally." - Journal of Heredity
In the fur industry, terms like "breed type" are used pragmatically to signify groups with desirable commercial traits. These traits aren’t the result of natural selection but rather targeted breeding choices made by humans to meet market demands.
Three Closed Breeding Lines of Domesticated Fox
Today, three main lineages or "breeds" of foxes have emerged from the history of selective breeding for specific purposes. Each lineage operates within a closed breeding pool, with its own set of regulations governing the breeding process:
Farming: The Farmed Silver Fox – This lineage is still intensively farmed for fur and managed by specific breeding standards, similar to how livestock breeds are regulated. They are valued for their size, fur quality, and a range of colours.
Research: The Russian Domesticated Red Fox – Born from a groundbreaking scientific experiment, this lineage focuses on tameness and aggression. Since 1959, researchers in Russia have been selectively breeding red foxes for different behaviours in an effort to understand domestication. These foxes are known for their unique personalities, with the tame foxes sold to be kept as "pets", in order to fund the continuation of the experiment.
Companionship: The Exotic Pet Silver Fox – Known as "companion animals," farmed foxes are now bred for the exotic pet trade rather than the fur trade. They’re generally bred for more docile temperaments and unique colours as exotic pets, although owning one requires special knowledge and a high level of commitment.
Each lineage has its own breeding standards and governing bodies that help maintain specific traits, much like breed associations do for domestic animals. These governing bodies set standards for factors like size, fur quality, and temperament, ensuring that each line continues to meet its intended purpose.
Ethics: Beauty, Utility, and Controversy
The breeding of foxes raises important ethical questions. While these animals have been selectively bred to meet human needs, their welfare is often a subject of debate. Intensively farmed silver foxes, for example, live in highly controlled environments and are bred almost exclusively for their fur. Conversely, captive-bred pet foxes have the potential for positive human interaction, but they require highly specific care that many pet owners are unprepared to provide.
Ethical questions also surround the selective breeding of behaviours, as seen in the Russian experiment. By breeding for tameness, scientists have created foxes that show signs of domestication, but what does this mean for their natural instincts? In a sense, these foxes are caught between being wild animals and domesticated pets, and their care reflects this duality.
Understanding these complexities helps us appreciate the unique status of foxes as a species that has been deeply impacted by human influence, both in terms of utility and companionship.
Summary
The story of the North American red fox is far from simple. Its journey from a wild species to distinct, selectively bred lineages shows how humans can profoundly shape the lives of animals. Today, these foxes exist as a complex mix of wild ancestry and domesticated traits, a testament to both our fascination with nature and our ability to manipulate it for our own purposes.
As fox enthusiasts, understanding these distinctions gives us a more nuanced perspective on what it means to keep and care for these incredible animals. Their history is filled with adaptation, controversy, and beauty—a story as multifaceted as the foxes themselves.
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