The Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a species of fox ranging from southern Canada, throughout most of the lower United States and Central America, to Venezuela. This species and the closely related Island Fox are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids.

Description

---

The gray fox has a gray back, tawny sides, neck and legs, a white belly, and a black stripe along its back and tail. Another black stripe crosses its face from the nose to the eye and continuing to the side of the head. Standing about 12-16 inches at the shoulders, weighing up to 16 pounds and having an overall body length of up to 47 inches, the gray fox is an agile canid able to scurry up and down trees with relative ease. The pelage is coarse when compared to other foxes, with the face, upper part of the head, flanks, back and most of the tail gray. The throat and undersides are whitish, and the ventral surface of the tail tends toward a rusty brown. The individual hairs along the middle of the back and top of the tail are heavily tipped with black, giving the appearance of a dark mane. The back and tail bear black-tipped bristles which stand erect during body posturing displays.

Habitat and Diet

---

Gray foxes are forest dwellers, and are the only canids able to climb trees. They prefer deciduous woodlands or partially open brush land with little human activity. While diet varies depending upon time of year, they prey mainly upon cottontail rabbits, though small rodents, birds and insects are staples as well; these foxes also forage for fruits and berries, and tend to eat more vegetable material than does the red fox.

Compared to the red fox

---

The red fox is the most commonly known fox. The grey fox has a coat one inch shorter than the red and is limited to warmer climates than the red, which can be found in polar regions. It's tail, however is more luxuriant. Both foxes tend to travel in a straight line when not hunting or hunted. The grey is more reclusive and less tolerant of human presence. They mate in February, at the same time as the coyote and a few weeks after the red fox.

References

---

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

Foxes | Fauna of Ontario | Fauna of Nova Scotia | Fauna of Colombia | Fauna of Manitoba | Fauna of the United States | Fauna of Mexico | Fauna of Venezuela | Wildlife of Central America

Сива лисица | Gråræv | Graufuchs | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Renard gris | שועל אפור מצוי | Pilkoji lapė | Grijze vos | 灰狐