Just like its name suggests, the Canadian marble fox has a coat that is suggestive of stone marble. It is mainly white with subtle streaks of grey, black, or tan that are artistically intertwined throughout. Although this is a wild animal, some people would love to keep it as a pet. Continue reading to know if a Canadian marble fox can be domesticated.
What Is a Canadian Marble Fox?
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A Canadian marble fox is a small wild fox with a cat-like appearance. Its most notable feature is the greyish black ring around its eyes, commonly referred to as the burglar’s mask.
Also known as Arctic Marble Fox, the Canadian marble fox is a non-naturally occurring type of fox commonly known for its largely white fur highlighted with greyish black or brown colors.
Although this class of fox is smaller than its other cousins, its pointy muzzle and furry tail resemble those of other foxes.
The words “Canadian” and “Marble” are not meant to indicate another species of fox but are meant to describe the fox’s predominant location and its fur coloring. These words can be confusing at times because they seem to suggest that the fox is a different species from the Arctic Fox.
These words are used to describe more specifically the distinction among other varieties of Arctic Fox. Apart from the white fur and the symmetrical dark markings on its eyebrows and eye rims, this fox also has identical black markings in its perky little ears. If you happen to come in close contact with one, make sure you have a pet hair lint roller with you as you’re sure to be left with some hair on your shirt!
These markings complete the impression that these foxes are mythological. But some Canadian marble foxes have brown markings as opposed to black.
Although both male and female Canadian Marble Foxes are fairly small, they slightly vary in size and weight, with the male ones weighing between 7 and 21 pounds while their female counterparts weigh between 3 and 8 pounds. Also, males can grow up to 27 inches tall while females don’t go beyond 20 inches tall.
History and Origin of The Canadian Marble Fox
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As mentioned above, a Canadian marble fox doesn’t occur naturally. According to the Fur Commission USA, the first Canadian marble fox was born in 1945 in Sverre Omber’s farm, Norway.
The commission also claims that this fox’s variety comes from a genetic mutation occurring when an arctic fox is bred with a red fox. This phenomenon is also referred to as the color phase since it creates a non-natural color morph (marble shade).
As the years went by, some breeders discovered that they could breed this fox for the fur business. Therefore, they selectively bred the Canadian marble fox because they viewed it as more profitable than other foxes.
Recently, CBC News reported that the BC Wildlife Park in Canada had rescued a pair of the Canadian marble fox from a facility in Quebec. These foxes are reported to have been 4 years old at the time and are currently being trained by the park to lessen their cunning behavior.
Can You Keep It As A Pet?
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The truth is that a Canadian marble fox is not supposed to be domesticated. However, some people have been trying to train and make this fox a household pet. While it’s possible to train a Canadian marble fox some tricks, expect it to forget all of them after some time. The fact is that this fox is not built to be domesticated, they belong to the wild.
Since the Canadian marble fox is a crossbreed or red and arctic foxes, it can survive anywhere, based on where it was born. It was only named Canadian marble fox because it was originally born in Northern Canada and other parts of the Arctic Circle.
Therefore, the names Canadian and the Arctic are only geographical indicators of the animal’s origin and where it is mostly found.
It is important to note that it is illegal to keep Canadian marble foxes in 35 states in the US, including:
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New York
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Wyoming
In Europe, some countries allow catching or breeding and selling of the Canadian marble fox as a pet. These countries include United Kingdom, Scotland, Latvia, Romania, Germany, Denmark, the Netherland, among others. In some African countries like South Africa, Ethiopia, and Djibouti, it’s illegal to keep this fox as a pet.
So, before you purchase your pet Canadian marble fox, talk to an official who understands what the law in your region says about the fox and other wild animals. This is important because most countries implement have imposed a blanket ban on all wild animals, not just the Canadian marble fox.
The main reason why countries prohibit the domestication of this fox is that it is known to carry rabies, which can be dangerous to both humans and other pets.
Are Canadian Marble Foxes Good Pets?
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If you decide to purchase a pet Canadian marble fox from a permitted breeder, you need to bear in mind the fact that there are serious risks involved.
For instance, you need to accept the fact that this fox is quite unpredictable and can cause bodily harm to you, your housemates, and other pets. It’s advisable to do thorough research on the Canadian marble fox before you spend your money on it as a pet.
A Canadian marble fox is known to be very stubborn, destructive, and aggressive, especially since it has a hunter instinct. Therefore, you will have a hard time training it as a pet. It also requires a lot of attention. Otherwise, it will develop a lot of unlikeable characteristics.
Sometimes a Canadian marble fox can fear you and other humans, so you should give it enough time to socialize with humans. Also, you should adopt it at an early age because an adult fox will develop a fear of its owner. It is also very easy for a Canadian marble fox to get along with dogs, but it needs constant exposure to them.
Things You Didn’t Know About Canadian Marble Foxes
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Aside from their unique appearance and small physique, Canadian marble foxes have several other distinctive features and abilities that you need to know about before you adopt them. Here are some important facts you need to know about these foxes.
• Extremely adaptable to harsh, frigid temperatures – their thick fur makes it easy for them to maintain steady body temperatures and gives them additional insulation. Also, their short legs, short muzzle, and rounded ears minimize the surface area for heat to get lost, and their feet are covered in fur.
• Solitary animals – a Canadian marble fox is primarily a solitary animal living on the Arctic tundra and pack ice.
• Don’t hibernate and fur changes color – a Canadian marble fox doesn’t hibernate and its fur changes color with the seasons. For instance, its fur turns brown in summer and white in winter. It is the only animal in the family of canid that changes color. This helps it to hide in the snow in winter and rocks and shrubs in summer.
• Have a unique hunting style – a Canadian marble fox is a carnivorous animal and a scavenger, hunting rodents, birds, and fish. Since prey is usually scarce in winter, this fox is known to follow the footsteps of the polar bear to feed on its leftover scraps.
• Monogamous – Canadian marble foxes are monogamous and therefore they mate for life.
• Reproduce in spring – female Canadian marble foxes give birth in spring so that they can raise their pups together with their males in summer. A Canadian marble fox can have between 5 and 8 pups.
• Live in burrows – these foxes usually live in burrows and extensive tunnels. In winter, these foxes will create tunnels in the snow to take shelter.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Canadian Marble Fox
Is it illegal to de-fang a Canadian marble fox?
Some people believe that getting rid of the fangs of a Canadian marble fox will help to tame it. Unfortunately, this is wrong. Therefore, it is illegal to de-fang your fox because it is dangerous for it. It is also cruel to remove the fangs from your fox.
Can spaying or neutering improve the odor of my Canadian marble fox?
Removing the reproductive organs of your Canadian marble fox won’t remove the strong smell it emits entirely, it will only reduce the odor of its markings. Therefore, the strong scent won’t go away.
Can a Canadian marble fox mate with my dog?
Many people who keep Canadian marble foxes as pets fear that they might mate with their dogs. But the truth is that foxes cannot mate with dogs because they have a different number of chromosomes and genetic patterns. So, while the two initially belonged to the same family, they took different evolutionary paths centuries ago.
In Summary
A Canadian marble fox is an intriguing creature with some adorable features. But if you want to domesticate it, you need to learn to tame it properly. Otherwise, it’s built to be in the wild. You also need to check whether it’s legal to own a Canadian marble fox in your country.
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