Gray Fox

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The Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a mammal of the order carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America from southern Canada to northern Venezuela and Colombia. This species and the closely related Island Fox are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids.

Description and behaviour

Gray foxes are distinguished from most other canids by their grizzled upperparts, buff neck and black-tipped tail, while the skull can be distinguished from all other North American canids by its widely separated temporal ridges that form a U-shape. There is little sexual dimorphism, save for the males being slightly larger than females. Gray foxes range from 800 to 1125 mm in length. Their tails measure 275 to 443 mm and their hindfeet measure 100 to 150 mm. They weigh 3.6 to 6.8 kg.

The gray fox's ability to climb trees is shared only with the Asian raccoon dog among canids. Their strong, hooked claws allow them to scramble up trees to escape predators or to get food. They descend primarily by jumping from branch to branch. Gray foxes are nocturnal or crepuscular and den in hollow trees, stumps or appropriated burrows during the day.

Along with the gray fox, the Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most common species of fox in North America. The two species prefer different habitats. The red fox prefers sparsely-settled, hill areas with wooded tracts, marshes and streams. The gray fox is found in brushy areas, swamplands and rugged, mountainous terrain. Where their ranges overlap, the smaller, gray foxes tend to be the dominant species due to higher levels of aggression and their ability to climb trees, which also helps them escape predator attacks from coyotes. . The gray fox has a voice similar to the red fox, but does not bark as often and its voice is louder and higher in tone.

Reproduction

Gray foxes are monogamous. The breeding season of gray foxes varies geographically; in Michigan, gray foxes mate in early March, in Alabama, breeding peaks occur in February. The gestation period lasts about 53 days. Litter sizes ranges from 1 to 7. Kits begin to hunt with their parents at the age of 3 months. By the time they are 4 months old, the kits have developed their permanent dentition and can forage on their own. The family group remains together until autumn when the young reach sexual maturity and disperse.

Diet

Gray foxes are solitary hunters and are largely omnivorous. They frequently prey upon eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus), though they will readily catch voles, field mice, shrews, and birds. Gray foxes supplement their diet with whatever fruits are readily available and generally eat more vegetable matter than red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

References

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Goddard-Taylor, Gayle "The Silver Ghost: The life and times of the gray fox". Sanctuary: The Journal of the Massachusetts Audubon Society 45 (2): 13-15.

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Last updated on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 06:23:06 PDT (GMT -0700)
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