Gray Fox
Smaller than the red fox and with shorter extremities and a salt-and-pepper coat, the gray fox, urocyon cinereoargenteus, is a member of the dog family but sometimes acts more like a cat. When pursued, they often scamper up leaning trees and sit tight to escape danger such as coyotes. Gray fox are found from southern Canada to northern South America and prefer woody, brushy and rocky habitats adjacent to riparian woodlands. The grey fox is an omnivore whose preferred foods include fruits, grains, small mammals, insects, foods offered by humans, garbage, birds and carrion. Its taste for cultivated produce keeps the gray fox close to humans.
The gray fox is most active from sunset to sunrise utilizing darkness as a form of cover. They are shy and elusive and flee when threatened. Preferred denning sights include natural caves, rock outcroppings, hollow logs, brush piles and burrows of other animals that can be enlarged. Mating season is from January to April and the gray fox will den up about two months later giving birth to an average of four pups. The gray fox is highly susceptible to a host of diseases ranging from canine distemper to rabies. However, unlike the red fox, they are very resistant to infestation by mange and heartworms.
The gray fox is well adapted to human dominated environments and as a result they occupy areas from the wilderness to the suburbs. While their fur is quite luxurious and very pretty, it is not as highly sought after as its cousin the red fox, and so fewer animals are taken each year by fur hunters or trappers.
The gray fox is a very persistent hunter, and many times he will very aggressively answer to a predator call. Quite often he will continue to just stand there looking at the hunter in a sort of daze, hell bent on getting the wounded animal he responded to, even after several shots have been fired in his direction.
