Hi friends! Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report.” Well, well, well. Would you look at that? You step away from your weekly column for one second — a brief hiatus, if you will — and suddenly there’s a baby in the house.
Let me catch you up: On May 21, my mom (you know, the one who feeds me, runs the sanctuary, and makes me pose for photos) took a little road trip from Key Largo to Central Florida. Why? Because someone had the audacity to give her a baby fox. A transporter met her halfway, and just like that, Isla arrived.
Now let’s get this part clear: Isla is not from a fur farm like the rest of us. Nope. This kid is the product of the exotic pet trade. Her parents, along with a random assortment of other animals, were surrendered to a sanctuary in Minnesota. And surprise! One of the foxes was pregnant. Six babies later, the sanctuary reached out to my mom asking if she’d give one a forever home.
Of course she said yes. Because have you seen my mom around fox kits? Weak in the knees. Total mush. So here we are. I’ve been forced into the role of big brother again, and I did not sign up for this. I mean, I didn’t like her at first. She’s loud. She’s tiny. She climbs things she absolutely should not be climbing. But she’s growing on me. Whatever. Don’t quote me on that.
Now, if you think this is just a feel-good fluff piece, think again. This story comes with a side of outrage. Because here’s the deal: wild animals are not pets. Period. I don’t know what brainiac decided it was a good idea to breed foxes, kinkajous, servals, and who-knows-what-else, and sell them to any yahoo with a credit card and a TikTok account, but I’m here to tell you it’s not.
The U.S. exotic pet trade is a $15 billion industry. That includes both the legal and illegal trafficking of wild animals. And trust me, the animals always pay the price. Most people have no idea how to properly care for a fox, let alone provide a safe, enriched environment for one. We’re not dogs. We’re not cats. We’re wild, complex, emotionally intelligent creatures that belong in sanctuaries or in the wild. Not in someone’s basement or backyard.
So while Isla’s story had a lucky ending, most don’t. That’s why I’m using my platform, yes, my platform, to remind you that the exotic pet trade is not just a quirky niche. It’s dangerous, inhumane and needs more regulation.
Until next time, I’ll be mentoring this baby and trying to reclaim my title as the main character around here.
Reef, over and out!
