Gray foxes establish their dens in underground burrows or hollow logs. In areas where trees are scarce, gray foxes may instead den in caves or clefts within boulders. Gray fox dens are typically lined with grass, leaves, and other soft materials.
Raising the young
After a gestation period of about 53 days, the female gray fox gives birth to a litter of 3 to 5 cubs, though there may be as many as seven. The cubs are born blind and deaf, and they weigh only about 4 ounces each. The mother fox stays with the cubs in the den for the first few weeks, nursing them and keeping them warm.
The cubs begin to explore their surroundings at about 3 weeks of age, and they are able to walk by about 6 weeks of age. The mother fox continues to nurse the cubs until they are about 8 weeks old, but they begin to eat solid food at about 4 weeks of age.
The young foxes stay with their mother until they are about 1 year old. During this time, she teaches them how to hunt and survive in the wild. The young foxes are also learning to interact with each other and to establish their place in the pack hierarchy.
Pack life
Gray foxes are social animals that live in packs. Packs typically consist of a breeding pair and their offspring. The pack may also include other related foxes, such as siblings or their parents. Gray fox packs are typically small, with an average of 5 to 6 individuals, though there may be as many as 12 foxes in a single pack.
Gray fox packs are territorial, and they defend their territory from other gray foxes and from other predators. The pack's territory may vary in size from 1 to 4 square miles. Gray foxes use scent marking to communicate with each other and to mark their territory.