Gray Fox
Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus
The gray fox is a small gray canid that is often described as having a "cat-like" shape to its head. It can be distinguished from the red fox and the coyote by its pelage (peppery gray on back with some rufus on sides, legs and tail, and black on sides of nose and white under chin), head shape, and the distinctive black stripe running down the tail.
Adult size: About 3 to 3.5 ft in length nose to tip of tail, with the tail comprising about 1/3 of the length.
Weight: 7 to 13 lbs, males and females around the same size
Life span: 6 years in the wild, 14-5 in captivity
Maturity: 10 months or by 1 year old
Litter size: 2 to 7 kits (closer to 3-5 more likely)
Fun Fact:
Gray foxes frequently climb trees, which is unusual for canids!
Diet
Gray foxes are omnivores with the majority of their diet known to be mice, voles, and cottontails. They have a flexible diet based on prey availability and may also consume birds, amphibians, reptiles, arthropods, carrion, and hard and soft mast like acorns and grapes.
Habitat
Gray foxes may occur in deciduous or mixed woodlands, especially areas that are brushy or rocky under ~3,000 ft in elevation. They may seek out foraging areas like old brushy or over grown fields interspersed with farmlands, near extensive forests.
Behavior
They may use dens of other animals to rest but more often use downed and hollow trees, rocky areas, and dense brush. They may line dens with leaves, bark, and grass, as well as feathers and fur of their prey. Home ranges vary based on habitat but generally 188 to 1633 acres. Densities are around 1 or 2 per 250 acres in the Adirondack park.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Gray foxes mate from late January to May and most litters are born in late March or April. By 3 months old the young are able to hunt with mom and are usually independent by four months.
Population Status
Population status is unknown. They are less abundant that red fox but occur throughout the state at low densities.
Viewing
Gray foxes are a bit elusive are hard to see, but may be picked up on camera traps. They are found in deciduous woods and shrubby openings adjacent to forest.
Range
The range of the gray fox spans most of New York State; they avoid urban areas.
For more information on Gray Foxes in New York please visit the NYSDEC page here.