Gray Foxes
Red Fox Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Urocyon
Species: Cinereoargenteus
Scientific Name
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Conservation status
Least Concern
LIFE SPAN
6 years in the wild
`14 years in captivity
Body size
6-15 lbs
Native habitat
Grey foxes are widespread throughout North and Central America.
Diet
Gray foxes are omnivorous solitary hunters, eating mostly rabbits, voles, shrews, and birds, however, they do search out and eat more vegetation than red species foxes do.
Foxy Fun Facts!
Gray foxes are the only American canine that can climb trees
Gray foxes have semi-retractable claws
Gray foxes are considered to be the most “primitive” of the canines
Gray foxes are not true foxes!
Gray foxes are a bit more unique than the foxes covered on this site, as they aren’t one of the 12 true foxes of the Vulpes Genus. Instead, gray foxes are in the Genus Urocyon, which they share with the Island fox. They are a small omnivorous fox and are widespread throughout North and Central America. Gray foxes used to be the most common fox found in the Eastern US, however, human advancement and deforestation have caused the red fox to become more common recently.
Gray foxes are the only American canid who can climb trees, and that ability is only shared with the Asian Tanuki (raccoon dog) and the New Guinea Singing Dog. They can climb vertical, branchless tree trunks, and will often do so to escape predators, find food, or even live in them!
Gray foxes will normally live in hollow trees, tree trunks, or in appropriately sized dens underground, and have been seen in trees as high up as 30ft from the ground. Gray foxes are assumed monogamous, and their breeding season changes based on their geographical location.
Gray foxes are omnivorous solitary hunters, eating mostly rabbits, voles, shrews, and birds, however, they do search out and eat more vegetation than red species foxes do.
Our Gray Foxes
