I’m Jessika Coker, owner of Juniper Fox, a two-year-old domesticated fox who has over 2 million fans on Instagram. We live in the Florida Panhandle with a Malamute mix dog named Moose, a young red fox named Fig, and two Sugar Gliders named Petunia and Peach and quite a few reptile friends. Caring for animals has always been a passion of mine, and I am working on starting my own rescue for animals in need. I’m excited to publish my first book "Juniper: The Happiest Fox" later this month, giving readers an inside look at what life is like living with a pet fox.
This cute fox has many passionate fans that leave comments and questions on our Instagram posts. Here are some of the most common questions I receive.
“Did you get them from the wild?”
Juniper and Fig are actually not from the wild, contrary to popular belief. Foxes like Juniper and Fig have been bred for over 150 years in captivity for their fur. These foxes are referred to as Ranched Foxes and are unable to be released into the wild due to their genetic difference and pet animal behaviors.
“Where can I get one?”
Exotic pets and foxes too aren’t for everyone, and I don’t recommend them as household pets. Even though they have some tendencies resembling dogs and cats, they are inherently wild mannered and at the end of the day act like foxes.
“Do they sleep with you?”
Juniper does sleep with me most nights. That is if you consider the hours of 4 am to 8:30 am “nights.” Most of the time, she is indoors at night, but she prefers to parade around the house, getting into anything she can while I try to sleep.
“What do they eat?”
Foxes aren't your regular domestic animals and need a nutrient called taurine to survive. This is found in raw meats. They are given a natural diet made up of game animals with a few fruits and vegetables thrown into the mix, but they prefer marshmallows and beef jerky if given a choice.
“Do you need a permit?”
You do need a permit to own a fox in almost every state in the US. Obtaining a permit means passing certain qualifications deeming you a good fox keeper. This is decided by the individual state’s department of natural resources.
“Do they smell?” and “Are they potty trained?”
Juniper and Fig do smell! Well, their pee smells. In fact, they have a very distinct odor that smells a lot like a skunk. Fortunately, both Fig and Juniper are trained to use potty pads when indoors, so the smell is generally contained in one room. We have to clean constantly to make sure that the house doesn’t have a lingering odor. Even though they are potty trained, they will still mark things much like a cat. This is part of their instincts and nearly impossible to break them off, so we highly value our steam cleaner.
“Do they like affection?”
Juniper loves to give affection, but only on her terms. This usually happens when I’m in a deep sleep, and her need to be pet is just too great. I wake up nearly every night as she nudges my hand waiting for me to scratch her until we both fall asleep.
More info: Instagram
