The Habitat of Gray Foxes

The gray fox -- or the urocyon cinereoargenteus -- is one of four North American foxes, inhabiting most of the United States; from just north of the Canadian border, down to the very tip of South America. They are commonly seen in forests or woodland areas; but they've been known to stay in old fields, as well as rocky areas.

  1. Food

    • The fox -- like wolves and coyotes -- is a member of the dog family, but they are the only member of this family that can climb straight up trees. This helps them forage for food, as foxes are omnivorous. Like most omnivores, they are very opportunistic eaters. They don't track prey, but they will pounce on it, when they cross paths. They also eat nuts and berries, and will scavenge in the trash.

    Life Cycle

    • The gray fox typically has a single litter annually. They mate between January and May and gestation runs for approximately two months, although more or less is not unexpected. Gray foxes typically have litters of three or four pups. They are a monogamous species, and are thought to mate for life. When a litter is born, the male will hunt and bring back food for the mother while the female nurses. As soon as the pups are old enough to hunt, both parents will take them on educational hunting trips. By the fall, the young fox will leave its parents and carve out its own place in the world, typically within a mile of their birthplace.

    Appearance

    • Gray foxes are relatively reclusive. They don't become active until dusk or full-on night, and when they sleep they tend to sleep hidden. Gray foxes sometimes get confused for red foxes, because they both have some of the same rust-colored fur; but a red fox is red all over. Sometimes red foxes have black legs and feet, and white blazes on their chest. Gray foxes are gray and black on their back, with red on their underside and feet. Gray foxes also can get white blazes on their chest and neck. Gray foxes are relatively small for a member of the dog family, at eight to 11 pounds.

    Living Space

    • Gray foxes often use dens to sleep or give birth in. They'll use the same den for a long period of time, and when they seek a new den they will sometimes enlarge a burrow that has been built previously by another animal. They also sleep in rocky crevices or caves -- and hollowed out logs or trees. They're a reclusive animal and don't often sleep in the open. Sometimes the gray fox will climb a tree, rob a nest of its eggs, and then nap in the nest.