Wildlife Wednesdays: Rescued Foxes Call Minnesota Home

Mikayla Raines started a registered charity in 2017 called Save A Fox. She takes in native animals that cannot be released into the wild. This includes foxes, minks, a bobcat, and even a coyote! These animals were rescued by Raines from people who got them as pets but could not keep them, as they found out how hard it is to domesticate a wild animal. Others were rescued because of changing exotic pet laws and unforeseen circumstances. 

She has two species of foxes, which includes a red fox and an arctic fox. Some are very kind and affectionate towards humans, whereas others keep to themselves. One thing for sure is that they love to play with toys, smile, and wag their tails like dogs! Some of the foxes come from fur farms, where farmers raise them (most inhumanely) to kill and sell their fur. This is mostly for clothing and taxidermists. Fur farmers give her the foxes that are injured, have damaged fur, or whose mothers have rejected them. Raines does not buy or breed foxes; she has caretakers that provide support for the animals such as feeding them, cleaning their cages, taking care of documents, and social media. 

Foxes are considered wildlife, but at Save a Fox, they are considered as livestock, such as cattle and pigs. Foxes are treated in different situations, according to state laws. In some states, they are treated as pests, and therefore, can legally be killed. For other states, they are regulated for hunters and trappers for their fur. Also, for some states, they are protected native wildlife. 

Foxes might be to cute to some people, but they are not meant for domestication. They are very curious animals who can hop over or under fences and escape. They tend to destroy things, use the bathroom everywhere, and have a particular smell. Dogs have been domesticated for several thousands of years, while foxes have not. So, even though you see them being cute and well behaved on social media, they make for terrible pets. 

Raines maintains an Instagram account with over 200,000 followers and has sponsorship and donations to her Save a Fox GoFundMe page. She loves all the foxes that live in her sanctuary and says how lucky these foxes are to find a home to run around and enjoy life. Raines works hard to ensure that Save A Fox is legitimate and organized.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikdolittles_animals/

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/1nke2cf940

Save a Fox Website: https://www.saveafox.org/