Pet Fennec Fox Legal and Illegal States 2024

Known as one of the cutest animals on earth, the fennec is the smallest fox on earth. This cute but wild canid is native to North Africa and is therefore considered exotic in the United States. Fennec foxes may possess tons of cuteness and charm but they are wild animals and could pose a danger to people. As a result, many states do not allow their residents to keep Fennec foxes as personal exotic pets.

However, some states require their residents to obtain a permit or license to keep a Fennec fox as a pet. Only in a few states fennec foxes are allowed as pets without any special permitting or licensing. So in this article, you will discover the states in which Fennec foxes are legal or illegal to keep as pets. In addition, you will discover whether or not Fennec foxes make good pets.

12 States in Which Pet Fennec Foxes are Legal Without Permits or Licenses

You do not need a special permit or license to keep a Fennec fox as a pet in the following states:

Arkansas
Illinois
Indiana
Louisiana
Michigan
Mississippi
Nebraska
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Virginia

Pet Fennec foxes are allowed as pets everywhere in New York State except in New York City. In other words, you may not keep Fennec foxes as pets in New York City.

11 States in Which Pet Fennec Foxes are Legal With Permits or Licenses

The following states require people to obtain the proper permits or licenses before keeping a fennec fox as a pet:

Delaware
Florida
Maine
Missouri
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Wisconsin

In the state of Florida, for example, people who want to own a pet Fennec fox will need to apply for a Class III wildlife permit. In Missouri, pet owners need to acquire a Wildlife Hobby permit to keep a Fennec fox as a personal pet. Pennsylvania pet owners need to have at least two years of experience with foxes to get a permit for a pet Fennec fox.

27 States in Which Pet Fennec Foxes are Illegal

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Oregon
South Carolina
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

Wyoming bans Fennec foxes as well as other exotic foxes because they pose a threat to the state's native foxes in the form of possible hybridization, competition, disease or parasitism.

Fennec Foxes' Lifestyle in The Wild

Even if fennec foxes are legal in your state, it is important to know how they behave in their natural habitat before considering keeping one as a pet. According to National Geography, Fennec foxes dwell in small communities in North Africa. Male fennec foxes urine-mark their territory. As opportunistic eaters, Fennec foxes forage for plants but also eat insects (particularly grasshoppers and locusts), birds and their eggs, and small rodents. Fennecs are able to go for long periods without water. According to Smithsonian's National Zoo, fennec foxes keep themselves hydrated by consuming roots, fruits and leaves.

As nocturnal animals, fennec foxes spend most of the day in underground burrows and emerge from their dens at dusk to search for food. Male fennecs hunt for food for the family. Fennec foxes are fast runners with a speed of 20 miles per hour and can change directions so quickly. You will see that in a video embedded at the end of the article. In the wild, fennec foxes usually run away from humans. The typical lifespan of fennec foxes in the wild is 10 years.

Fennec Foxes as Pets

Do fennec foxes make excellent pets? Fennec foxes may be the cutest animal in the world, but they are still wild animals, whether bred in captivity or not. Nevertheless, they can make excellent house pets if they get the right, loving owner. Several fennec fox videos on YouTube show just how playful, friendly, affectionate, energetic, and noisy they can be.

They bark and behave like little dogs and enjoy interacting with their owners. However, fennec foxes typically aren’t cuddly with humans because as wild animals, they have skittish, aloof, and independent personalities. As such, it’s always best to let your pet Fennec fox come to you. According to a YouTube video, pet fennec foxes exhibit destructive and aggressive behaviors like biting and digging sometimes, and would later calm down and develop a loving personality.

Fennec foxes in captivity at the San Diego Zoo eat carnivore meat diet, canine kibble, and mixed vegetables, according to the zoo. Furthermore, pet fennec foxes don't like strangers, so they will attack and bite intruders. The lifespan of pet fennec foxes is typically 14 years. In the United States, acquiring a fennec fox from a reputable breeder can cost you up to $2,500.