What Is the Canadian Marble Fox?

Like some kind of stuffed animal, the Canadian marble fox is undoubtedly one of the cutest creatures on the planet. Whether you're a hopeful first-time pet owner or someone that has had pets for years, you may be considering buying a fox for yourself. 

You've likely heard about this majestic creature before, but do you know all of the facts? For instance, what is a Canadian marble fox in reality? How are they bred, and are they legal to own in Canada?

These are some common questions about this popular, handsome fox that everyone seems to be pining over. You need to do your research before you consider buying your own fox. 

Luckily, we are here to tell you what you need to know about owning a Canadian marble fox in Canada. If you're looking into getting your own fox or are just interested in learning more about what you should consider before buying one, keep reading below. 

Canadian Marble Fox Important Facts

What Makes the Canadian Marble Fox, Marble?

The Canadian marble fox, which is also called an arctic fox, is a small fox that has an appearance resembling a cat. One of its most interesting features is the dark rings around its eyes that look similar to what a raccoon would have.

The Canadian marble fox is named for the fact that its coat resembles stone marble. Generally, you will see their coat as mostly grey or tan with streaks of these colours, as well as black and white, throughout.

These are not naturally occurring species in Canada. The first marble fox is believed to have been born in Norway in 1945. Their coat colour comes from a genetic mutation that occurs when an arctic fox breeds with a red fox.

After some time passed, breeders started to realize that they could make money off of breeding this specific type of foxes. Now, they are bred selectively and are generally seen as being more profitable than other types of foxes. 

The main reason that they are called Canadian marble foxes instead of Norwegian marble foxes is that they were first purposefully bred in Canada (and other areas within the Arctic Circle). In the past, they were mainly bred for the fur trade. Today, you can also find that some people sell Canadian marble foxes as pets in Canada or in other parts of the world.

Does a Marble Fox Make a Good Pet?

Canadian marble foxes were not originally bred for domestication. However, that doesn't mean that it cannot be done!

You can get a Canadian marble fox pet, but you need to do a good deal of research first to make sure that it's the right type of pet for you.

Not all people will be able to handle their cunning behaviour, and you need to remember that you'll have to pay for things like healthcare, food, pet insurance, toys or activities, and more. Pets don't come cheap, but that is especially true when they are exotic animals.

A Canadian marble fox is not going to be like a typical pet. They won't be able to train like a cat or a dog, and they will generally behave as a wild animal behaves.

If you do have a cat or a dog at home, it's likely best not to get a fox (especially if you don't have pet insurance for your dog). They won't get along well with each other, and your other pet may end up being attacked or killed by the fox in your home. 

Further, marble foxes are not going to be as cuddly with you as they may appear. They are very independent, non-affectionate, and may not even want to be touched by you. 

Another thing to consider is that because the fox is still wild, they may run away when they have the opportunity to do so. In addition to this, they will smell like wild animals, dig holes to escape from the heat, and won't respond to punishment the same way that dog or cat would.

Habits and Behaviours of a Marble Fox

Marble foxes have many of the same habits that any other fox might have. They are very smart, cunning creatures that love to be by themselves. They can be friendly, but they can also easily be startled or made upset by other animals or humans.

Foxes used to be completely nocturnal, so they would see best at nighttime (like cats). They liked to sleep in the daytime and go out at night. Today, however, foxes are commonly seen out during the day as they have become crepuscular. 

As we mentioned, marble foxes like to be by themselves, so they are very cautious before they approach a human or another animal. Canadian marble foxes have high energy, so they will find an activity to let their energy out when they can (destructive or not). 

It's a lot easier for a human to interact with a marble fox from far away. They will be more comfortable where they know they have an escape from you if they choose to take it. 

Marble foxes are genetically designed for extreme cold weather thanks to their genes from both the arctic fox and red fox. Their coats are heavy, so they won't get frostbite, and they know to curl their tails around themselves to stay warm. 

Truthfully, the behaviour and habits of a Canadian marble fox may change at any time. Foxes have fluid behaviours, and they like to do what they want to do when they want to do it. 

Where Can You Buy a Canadian Marble Fox?

If you're still interested in owning a Canadian marble fox, you will want to be sure that you're getting one from a reliable source. Truthfully, however, it may be extremely difficult to find a breeder that you can trust with this task.

As we will mention in more detail below, it is actually illegal to own a fox in many parts of Canada. There are wildlife regulations in place to protect foxes since they are not meant to be domesticated animals.

If you're able to find a breeder that has foxes for sale, there could be many issues present. The foxes could potentially be sick, inbred, or have other health problems that you won't be able to get help with. 

Before you purchase a marble fox from any seller, it's important that you seriously consider the implications of this type of transaction. Foxes of any type require a lot of time, money, expertise, and care that not all pet owners are able to offer.

What Are the Legal Issues with Canadian Marble Foxes?

Most provinces in Canada have specific laws regarding the ownership of foxes as pets. Legality also varies when it comes to where your fox is allowed to reside in terms of the specific province.

There is actually a lot of information that you'll need to know if you plan to try and purchase a fox, but we will break it down as simply as we can for you here. If you're concerned about the legality of owning this type of animal, it may be a good idea to get in touch with legal counsel to discuss your options before you purchase one. 

In British Columbia, a fox is protected under the Wildlife Act because it is deemed a native animal. Other provinces that have laws similar to the laws in British Columbia include:

If you're interested in owning a Canadian marble fox, you have to be sure that you're following all laws and regulations. Otherwise, you're doing yourself and the animal a huge disservice. 

While laws in the United States may be different, Canada is very specific on the legality of owning a fox as a pet - it's generally not allowed. 

Learn More by Studying the Beautiful Canadian Marble Fox

While the Canadian marble fox might be a stunning creature, they are not necessarily the best pet for you. If you do decide to obtain one to keep at home, be sure to keep it away from any other animals you may have and pay attention to its behaviours to make sure it is happy.

The marble fox, like other foxes, loves to be outside and in its natural environment. Foxes are beautiful creatures that deserve to be respected by all humans, in Canada and around the world.

If you thought this content was interesting, Insurdinary has a lot of other interesting articles related to pets. Check out our article regarding pet insurance for exotic animals today.