EnglishThe gray fox is not as ubiquitous as other fox species as they veer away from urban areas and are hard to spot in the wild. Their salt and pepper color allows them to blend with nature and avoid people. A bit stockier and more agile than the red fox, gray foxes’ total length range is 31 to 47 inches with weights of around 6 to 15 lbs.
They are nocturnal animals that may come out during the day to forage and find food. If you’re lucky, you can catch sight of them during these times but don’t expect them to warm up to you as they will likely flee and see you as a threat to their safety.
As an admirer of the species, Paso Pacifico is working hard to preserve the wildlife corridors in Central America where gray foxes live. We encourage you to learn more about these fascinating creatures and how you can help preserve them, including the biodiversity they represent.
Their Origin
Gray foxes are an ancient species that originated in North America millions of years ago. These animals dispersed across America as they evolved and adapted to changing environments. They belong to the Canidae family which dates back to the Oligocene and Miocene periods. Today, these canids are mostly found in North and Central America, including some parts of South America.
Is a Gray Fox a Cat?
Let’s clarify this popular misconception. Like a cat, the gray fox climbs trees, enjoys the same prey, and grows to a similar size but it is not a cat. It is a Canidae, the same family as dogs.
Their scientific name is Urocyon cinereoargenteus. Gray foxes are sometimes referred to as dog foxes or cat foxes but they are true foxes. They only share a few traits with these animals.
The Special Qualities of Gray Foxes
What makes the gray fox so special? Here are a few distinguishing qualities:
Their Coats Are Not Entirely Gray
Despite the name, a close look would reveal that these foxes are a combination of rust, black, and white. Their tails are bushy with black stripes on top and at the tips.
Gray Foxes’ Pupils Are Oval-Shaped
While most foxes have vertical slit-shaped pupils, gray foxes’ pupils are oval. Upon closer examination, you’ll notice the thin, black stripes from the corner of their eyes extending to the sides of their heads.
These Canids Can Climb Trees
The gray fox is one of two canids that can climb trees. The other fox with this ability is the East Asian raccoon dog. This makes them stand out from other members of the Canidae family—a group composed of 14 members and 34 species like coyotes, dogs, jackals, and wolves.
They Have Semi-Retractable Claws
Gray foxes can partially extend their claws, giving them strong grips and excellent traction while ascending trees. They use their front claws to push against and climb up tunks while their rear claws offer support, weight distribution, and stability.
These Foxes Have Rotating Forearms
The Urocyon cinereoargenteus can rotate its wrists, making it more agile as it climbs trees and moves between branches. Its flexible wrists also enhance foraging, giving it an advantage in sustenance and survival.
Gray Foxes Make Various Sounds
From soft purring to guttural growling, gray foxes have various ways of expressing themselves. They usually make high-pitched barks when communicating or raising an alarm. They also growl when there’s a threat, whimper when they are distressed, and yip when they want to attract mates.
Dog Foxes Have a Penchant for Seclusion
Gray foxes are not socially savvy. The need to forage food draws them out of seclusion. They prefer being among the bushes and will only venture out if necessary. They are generally solitary, marking their territories spanning 1 to 2 miles on average. Additionally, these foxes connect with their fellow gray foxes only when mating and parenting their young.
They Have a Flexible Diet
Depending on the season and what’s available out there, gray foxes are omnivores. They prey on small mammals like rodents and cotton-tail rabbits, insects, birds, and some amphibians like toads and small reptiles. They also love berries, other fruits, nuts, seeds, and a wide range of insects like ants, crickets, and other crawlies.
These Nocturnal Animals Cache Their Food Supply
They cache food so they can have something during lean seasons. They dig a hole, bury their food, and mark it with their urine or scent glands for retrieval later.
Where To Find Gray Foxes
These small lean animals love dense habitats like woodlands, grasslands, and bushlands but they’re also drawn to rocky canyons and ridges. They are abundant in North and Central America, surviving in temperate and semi-arid climates.
You can find them across wide geographical territories including central and eastern Canada as well as northwestern and central western US states like Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Venezuela. Gray foxes also reside in Colombia, the US Pacific Coast, and the region stretching between the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans.
Reproductive Habits
Gray foxes’ mating season is around February to March. Pregnancy takes about 52 days. The average number of offspring per birth is 5 and the baby foxes start venturing from the den at about 4 weeks old. They are usually weaned for 10 weeks while the father gray fox steps in to provide food for the family.
Are Gray Foxes in Danger?
These small mammals sometimes attract hunters who are fascinated by their uniqueness and hunt them for their fur but their population is generally stable and not on the endangered list. Gray foxes are not really targeted for their fur as much as other fox species.
However, according to recent reports, there are places like the Midwest United States—particularly Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana—that have seen a decline in gray fox sightings in the last four years.
Possible Reasons for the Recent Decline
Wildlife experts from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducted research and found that a possible reason for the decline is the spread of canine distemper virus from raccoons and coyotes. They are known to interact with these animals and feed on the same carcasses.
Another reason is competition according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s College of Natural Sciences Department of Environmental Conservation. The university reported that gray foxes are being harassed and killed by coyotes and bobcats for territorial protection. These factors are believed to contribute to the decline of gray fox sightings in recent years.
The Tree Cover Factor
Another study conducted by North Carolina State University in 2022 points to declining tree cover and its impact on interspecies interaction. Without enough tree cover, gray foxes avoid areas that coyotes have been using as their habitats. They also shifted to being active at night to avoid sharing habitats.
The study is continuously being conducted through data collection by using tracking collars. By knowing more about their habitat use and range, behaviors, genetics, and other factors affecting their movement and mortality, researchers are hoping to identify and address the reason for the decline.
Preventing extreme habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation is vital to gray fox protection. Regions, where their habitats are rapidly being converted for agricultural, residential, or industrial purposes, must be addressed before they become too problematic to manage.
Protect Gray Foxes By Protecting Their Habitats
These beautiful creatures are a vital part of our world’s biodiversity. Deforestation and land conversions are threatening their homes so we urge you to join us in restoring and protecting wildlife corridors.
At Paso Pacifico, we utilize an integrative, iterative, and community-based approach. We work with local communities, landowners, and organizations in rural Central America to come up with effective and practical solutions.
Two of our initiatives focus on securing core habitats and aiding forest regeneration through the Machete Project. These empower us to combat Mesoamerica’s high deforestation rates while keeping the habitats of gray foxes safe.
Help Paso Pacifico protect wildlife habitats while fostering a culture of preservation that positively impacts local communities. With your donations, we can preserve gray foxes and the other animals that share their homes.