The Gray Fox

Description

Foxes belong to the dog family, Canidae, and are dog-like in appearance. The gray fox is a medium size animal measuring roughly 3 ½ feet from nose to tail. It is distinguished from its cousin the red fox by size and color variation. The gray fox is smaller, weighing 7-13 lbs., while the red fox can weigh up to 18lbs. The gray fox has a course, salt and pepper gray coat with buffy under fur and a long, bushy, black-tipped tail with median black stripe down its length. It has rusty-yellowish coloring on the sides of its neck, backs of ears, legs and feet. In contrast, the red fox is mostly rusty with white under fur and white tipped tail and black legs and feet.

Habitat

Gray foxes tend to be animals of more arid regions. They are found in chaparral, open forests and rimrock country. They often den in hollow trees, logs and beneath boulders. Ground burrows are also used for birthing sites and for escape holes.

Habits

Gray foxes are chiefly nocturnal and very secretive. They are sometimes seen, however, in early morning hours hunting or sunning themselves. Canids are noticeably deficient in tree-climbing ability, however gray foxes are quite adept at this skill. They climb by clasping the trunk with their front legs and pushing up with the hind legs. Mating occurs in February or March. The female may give birth to up to 7 pups, however four is the average. The pups are dark brown and blind at birth.

Diet

The gray fox feeds on small mammals, insects, fruits, acorns, birds and eggs. Unlike its red cousin, the gray fox rarely invades poultry yards. It is omnivorous, leaning toward herbivore, eating lots of grains and fruits, an odd habit of a canid.

How the Gray Fox is Beneficial

The gray fox is considered a beneficial animal by many biologists, ecologists and naturalists. Like most carnivores, they play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to maintain the balance between predator and prey. They are excellent mousers, keeping rodent and small mammal populations in check. Because they rarely invade poultry yards, they are beneficial to humans as well.