While your little Fennec Fox may be safe and happy at your home like all other exotic pets, you might not know what happens to them in the wild. Which animals are its predators? What are the illnesses that might kill it?
Natural Predators
Nature holds a certain law for the survival of the fittest. These cute little critters are prey to some larger desert animals such as the jackal, striped hyenas and domestic dogs. However, claims of such dubious animals feasting on the fennecs is questionable. This petite animal is very quick, so it will not be easy for those other bigger animals to catch them so easily.
Younger fennec foxes, however, are more vulnerable to attacks, especially by eagles and owls. It is still not easy though, because the fennec’s parents are very protective and sensitive to disturbance.
The little fox is very quick, and locals consider it a very difficult animal to catch, even for the saluki which is a local greyhound-like dog.
Human hunters
One more fearsome predator of these foxes are none other than humans. Some locals would capture the little furry creature from their homes in the burrow for photographic exhibition, or sold to tourists! Some locals may actually raise the them for their meat, but locals of southern Morocco may probably be the only ones that would consider their meat foul.
Indigenous people of northern Africa will also hunt and trap the foxes, whether to sell them in pet trades or sell them for their fur.
Desert animals rarely experience problems with road kills, and so far there was only one mortality recorded of the fennec species in southern Morocco.
Illness
As exotic pets owner, you would already know by now that you should never give live vaccines to the these foxes. The little fox are said to be susceptible to parasites and whatever pathogens that are linked to the domestic dog.
There will probably be more dangers that the fox experiences in the wild, although it may not be well documented. Knowledge about this petite fox is few, and interest to this species only came about recently with the heightened interest of the animal as an exotic pet. More studies and observations will need to be done so that pet owners may have an even better understanding of the animal.
Natural Predators
Nature holds a certain law for the survival of the fittest. These cute little critters are prey to some larger desert animals such as the jackal, striped hyenas and domestic dogs. However, claims of such dubious animals feasting on the fennecs is questionable. This petite animal is very quick, so it will not be easy for those other bigger animals to catch them so easily.
Younger fennec foxes, however, are more vulnerable to attacks, especially by eagles and owls. It is still not easy though, because the fennec’s parents are very protective and sensitive to disturbance.
The little fox is very quick, and locals consider it a very difficult animal to catch, even for the saluki which is a local greyhound-like dog.
Human hunters
One more fearsome predator of these foxes are none other than humans. Some locals would capture the little furry creature from their homes in the burrow for photographic exhibition, or sold to tourists! Some locals may actually raise the them for their meat, but locals of southern Morocco may probably be the only ones that would consider their meat foul.
Indigenous people of northern Africa will also hunt and trap the foxes, whether to sell them in pet trades or sell them for their fur.
Desert animals rarely experience problems with road kills, and so far there was only one mortality recorded of the fennec species in southern Morocco.
Illness
As exotic pets owner, you would already know by now that you should never give live vaccines to the these foxes. The little fox are said to be susceptible to parasites and whatever pathogens that are linked to the domestic dog.
There will probably be more dangers that the fox experiences in the wild, although it may not be well documented. Knowledge about this petite fox is few, and interest to this species only came about recently with the heightened interest of the animal as an exotic pet. More studies and observations will need to be done so that pet owners may have an even better understanding of the animal.