Zoo News

Foxes are shy and nervous by nature, but also very intelligent so a lot goes into their training when in human care. Once our staff knew that we would be acquiring her, they started working with WCoV to begin training while she was still in their care; their team was also able to work on some basic behaviors that would create a smoother transition for when she joined the Zoo. Once the Zoo decided to name her “Pippi,” the staff at WCoV started using her name so she could get used to it. Changing homes can be a big change for anyone, animals included, and so collaborative training like this can help make the adjustment a little easier.

Being an Animal Ambassador requires a lot of training, but the first and most important step is building trust between the animal and their trainer. This is a crucial step in growing the animal’s confidence and therefore being able to train all other necessary behaviors. After trust is established, staff will begin training simple behaviors such as “target”, “sit”, “spin”, etc., to help with the animal’s confidence while providing mental and physical stimulation. The next step is to focus on training behaviors that are necessary for husbandry and medical needs including stepping on a scale, moving into a kennel, and showing a paw. Once all of these behaviors have been taught to the animal and they are consistent, the trainers will focus on behaviors that are necessary for Zoo Education Programs such as leash training, traveling in their kennel, and being around crowds or people. The timeline of this training process is not the same for every animal as it entirely depends on each individual’s comfort and our keeper staff is dedicated to progressing at each animal’s pace, no matter how long it takes.

When Pippi arrived at the Zoo, staff used the standard mandatory 30-day quarantine period to start gaining her trust by sitting with, feeding, and talking to her. Once her quarantine was completed staff continued to build her trust until they could begin training. Pippi was quick to show her intelligence but staff also discovered how shy she was. To ensure her comfort  in her new home and to provide consistency, two staff members became her primary trainers.

The thoughtful steps taken by Zoo staff allowed Pippi to open up more and now she plays fetch with her toy frog (her favorite!) and she vocalizes “happy” sounds while playing. She has built such a tight bond with her keepers that now in the mornings she runs over to greet them and “asks” for scratches. She is currently working on three major behaviors, squeeze, kennel, and collar, but she has already learned paw, turn, sit, stand, and as well as other simple, foundational behaviors. Additionally, her team is working hard on building her confidence around new people and they are seeing great progress!

As Pippi is a native Virginia species, she makes a fantastic ambassador for her wild counterparts and works to educate the public about foxes. The ultimate goal for Pippi’s trainers is to be able to bring her to Education Programs at the Zoo and at off-site venues where she can teach people about her species. However, it’s important to remember that it takes time for an animal to be ready to be an ambassador and our staff will always work at a pace that prioritizes the animal’s health and welfare above all else. Currently, Pippi is still working with her trainers to build her confidence in order to meet guests, so at this time she is not visible to the public. Stay tuned for future updates!