| www.utsc.utoronto.ca cbsu.tc.cornell.edu Genetically domesticated foxes arise out of 50 years of selective breeding. This is from the tame stock, where animals' early reactions to handlers are observed as being non-aggressive. These animals are allowed to breed and the offspring are further selected for tameness. There is no behavioral modification like petting or striking in the fox's life. See the above link for the complete testing procedure. This video is a simple behavioral evaluation which determines how the fox responds to the handler. First, the handler simply approaches the cage. Then, the handler idles outside the cage. The cage is then opened but the handler does not seek contact with the fox. Then, the handler seeks to touch the fox. The cage is then closed and the handler stands outside the cage once again. Each phase of testing lasts for one minute (this is a truncated video). The fox's reactions are objectively recorded by the handler. This particular fox is from the tame stock. These videos show the impact of genetics on behavior. (See companion video of fox that has arisen out of the aggressive stock.) The "bite" you see in this video is non-forceful and a form of play. Foxes use mouth-holding to show dominance. Rats and I believe a form of stoat were also experimented with in this way, but I do not have any videos. Edit 4.16.07: I just learned that Belyaev found out that the "tameness trait" was actually an adrenal response. Within 10 generations of ... |
