GREY FOX

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

STATUS:

Habitat availability may limit distribution, but lack of suitable habitat does not appear to pose a great threat to the species' survival.

DESCRIPTION:

A mottled or grizzled grayish fox, the color being derived from individual hairs banded with white, grey and black. There is a dark stripe down the back and a small black mane. Parts of the neck, flanks, and legs are rufous, the face and underbelly being white or buff.

SIZE:

Head-and-body length: 53-81 cm. Tail length: 27-44 cm Shoulder height unknown. Weight: 3-7 kg, females slightly lighter than males.

POPULATION:

Widespread healthy populations in most areas where the species occurs.

LIFESPAN:

15 years.

RANGE:

Very widespread throughout deciduous forests from northern South America (Venezuela and Colombia) up through most of central America and into southwestern, western, and eastern United States. Not found in the Rocky Mountains or the far northwest of the United States. The grey fox disappeared from Canada in the late 17th century concurrent with the introduction of the red fox from Europe. The causal relationship between these events is questionable. The decline of the grey fox, and spread of the red fox, might, as much as anything else, have been the result of changing patterns of land use. Small populations have recolonized parts of southern Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. This colonization and range expansion through the northern United States and southern Canada may be the result of increased prey availability.

HABITAT:

Found in, and prefers, woodlands, but is also common in old field succession areas, preferring such habitat to cultivated or more open areas. Grey foxes can also be found in urban areas. 

FOOD:

Omnivorous. Diet includes small vertebrates, especially rabbits, insects, and carrion.

BEHAVIOR:

The usual social unit is the mated pair. Dens are located in brushy or woodland areas. The dens are rarely dug by the fox. Foxes can also use various other denning sites. The grey fox can climb trees and use hollows in standing trees, logs, buildings, rock crevices. Home range size (=territory) varies from 3 to 27.6 km² and ranges are usually overlapping. Young disperse in first year and have been known to travel up to 84 km. Nocturnal/crepuscular in activity.

OFFSPRING:

Time of mating: Jan. to Apr. depending on latitude. Gestation: 51-63 days. Litter size: mean 4, range 1-10. Lactation: 7-9 weeks. Age at sexual maturity: 10 months; females breed in the first year.

THREATS:

None known.