Fennec Fox

© ZME Science© ZME Science

Those enormous ears aren't just for show – fennec foxes have incredibly sensitive hearing that makes them jumpy and easily stressed in noisy households. These desert animals dig instinctively, creating destruction that no amount of training can eliminate.

Their high-pitched screams can reach deafening volumes, especially during their most active hours – midnight to dawn. Housetraining presents a nearly impossible challenge; their natural marking behaviors persist regardless of training efforts.

Finding veterinary care is difficult since most vets lack experience with exotic canids. Legal ownership requires permits in many areas, with some states banning them entirely. While undeniably adorable, their natural behaviors make them poorly suited to domestic life.

NOTE: The Fennec fox gets its funny name from a word in the Arabic language. In Arabic, the word "fanak" (فَنَك) means "fox." So, when people who spoke Arabic named this little animal, it became known as the "fennec fox. "The Fennec fox is a very small fox that lives in the deserts of North Africa. It is famous for its huge ears that are much bigger than most foxes. These big ears help the fennec fox stay cool in the hot desert and also hear tiny noises from far away.