Gray Fox (Urucyon cineoargenteus)

Gray foxes are secretive and elusive. Their tracks and scat may been seen along the Canyons trail and if you're lucky you may see one high up in a tree during the day.

NPS Photo

 

The Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) is the only other species within the genus Urocyon. Found on only six of the eight Channel Islands in California, this fox shares similar color patterns to the gray fox, but is considerably smaller.

NPS/ H. Kajitani

Grey Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus

• The Gray fox is a small and agile predator. The only member of the dog family known to regularly climb trees; gray foxes are masters of their forest environments.
• The species name cineoargenteus comes from Latin meaning “grayish silver.”

Size and description

• The gray fox resembles a red fox is general structure but is shorter and stockier.
• Weight ranges from 7-12 lbs. on average and around 15 inches tall at the shoulder and measure 35-45 inches in length from nose to tip of tail. Males are larger than females.
• Gray foxes have a large black-tipped bushy tail with a single black stripe down the top of it.
• Gray foxes have a narrow-pointed muzzle and long erect pointed ears.
• Coloration is the same for males and females. White throats and bellies, black muzzles and a black stripe down their backs; reddish necks and ribs; the rest of the body is a mix of black, white and gray guard hairs giving the gray fox a beautiful coat.

 

Gray foxes are excellent hunters of rodents in tall grass. In Jewel Cave National Monument's grassland ecosystem, fox will sit still to listen and look for their chance to pounce.

NPS/ H. Kajitani

Behavior

• Gray foxes can almost be described as catlike in their habits. They climb trees to escape predators, to reach their den, or to hunt.
• They will climb vertical tree trunks by hugging the trunk with their forelimbs and pushing themselves up with their hindlegs.
• Gray foxes like to spend near water in brushy thickets, rocky outcrops, hollow trees or logs, in abandoned buildings or occasionally underground burrows.
• Gray foxes are incredibly shy and secretive, they are rarely seen at all and seldom seen in daylight.

Diet

• Gray foxes use their excellent tree climbing to hunt squirrels and birds, as well as eating eggs out of nests and occasionally eating fruit.
• Gray foxes are also excellent hunters of small rodents and rabbits. Using patience and their unique coloration to blend in, they sit still in grass to ambush passers-by.

Interactions with other animal

• Being very small, gray foxes find themselves on the menu for many different species. Coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, eagles, domestic dogs, hawks and other raptors are all predators of the gray fox.