How to tame a Minecraft fox

A tame Minecraft fox hanging out in a biome.
(Image credit: Mojang)
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Want to tame a Minecraft fox? Just like real-life foxes, these four-legged critters are pretty sneaky. Still, you might spy one of these bushy-tailed creatures when out and about on your travels. But did you know you can befriend the Minecraft fox? All it takes is a little determination and some skillful planning.

After all, foxes are wary and run away if you try to get near them. However, there are some things you can do if you want to tame one for yourself and make it an ally. This foxy friend will help you fend off mobs that attack, and will chase and hunt small animals. They are also pretty good at jumping, so can scale fences, and other small structures.

In this guide we'll walk you through how to tame this timid creature, including where to find it, and what you'll need. Follow these instructions and before you know it, you'll have your very own Minecraft fox friend to name whatever you'd like (mine is named Mara).

Minecraft Fox spawn locations

A Minecraft fox hanging out in the trees

(Image credit: Mojang)

Where does a Minecraft fox spawn?

Foxes in Minecraft are a little harder to find than some of the more common beasties, especially as they are nocturnal: you need to search Taiga biomes to locate them. These are the colder forests that you can find on the surface, and they come in three different varieties; normal, snowy, and giant tree Taigas. 

Foxes spawn in these areas in groups of two to four, and they have a 5% chance of spawning as baby foxes. Red foxes are found in the normal Taigas and white foxes within the snowy ones, so keep that in mind if you’re after a specific colour.

How to tame

A Minecraft Fox snoozing in a forest.

(Image credit: Mojang)

How to tame a fox in Minecraft

First you need to make a brand new fox—basically, you need to convince foxes to breed. All you need to do this is to give one sweet berry to one fox, then give another sweet berry to the fox you want it to mate with. Then wait for them to breed. The freshly-hatched fox will be loyal to you. 

The problem is it'll also want to follow the other foxes. So if you want it to follow you, you'll need to get it away from the other foxes. The best way to do this is to attach a lead to it and walk away from other groups of the furry fauna, then it’ll only have eyes for you. Make sure you look after it now that you’ve taken it into your care. 

While you can find leads out in the wild, you’ll probably have to craft one using four string and one slimeball. Also, if you choose to breed a white and a red fox, then their baby has a 50% chance of being either white or red, whereas two of the same colour will produce the same type of cub.

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