Family: Canidae, Dogs view all from this family
Description Grizzled gray above, reddish on lower sides, chest, and back of head; throat and belly white. Tail similarly colored, but has black "mane" on top and black tip. Legs and feet rust-colored. Ears prominent. Ht 14 1/8–15" (36–38 cm); L 31–44" (80–113 cm); T 8 5/8–17 3/8" (22–44 cm); HF 3 7/8–5 7/8" (10–15 cm); E 2 3/4–3G0 (7–8 cm); Wt 7 1/4–13 lb (3.3–5.9 kg).
Similar Species Red Fox has white tail tip. Kit Fox is smaller and has yellowish-buff fur with black tail tip.
Breeding Mates January–April; 1 litter of 1–7 young born March–May; gestation 53 days.
Habitat Varied; more often in wooded and brushy habitats than Red Fox.
Range Throughout e U.S. east from e North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma; in West, w Oregon, California, s Nevada, s Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and most of Texas.
Discussion Although active primarily at twilight and at night, the Common Gray Fox is sometimes seen foraging by day in brush, thick foliage, or timber. The only American canid with true climbing ability, it occasionally forages in trees and often takes refuge in them, especially in leaning or thickly branched ones. The Common Gray Fox feeds heavily on cottontail rabbits, mice, voles, other small mammals, birds, insects, and much plant material, including corn, apples, persimmons, nuts, cherries, grapes, pokeweed fruit, grass, and blackberries. Grasshoppers and crickets are often a very important part of the diet in late summer and autumn. Favored den sites include woodlands and spaces among boulders on the slopes of rocky ridges. This fox digs if necessary, and it sometimes enlarges a Woodchuck burrow, but it prefers to den in clefts, small caves, rock piles, hollow logs, and hollow trees, especially oaks. Occupied in the mating season, dens are seldom used the rest of the year. The male Common Gray Fox helps tend the young, but does not den with them. The young are weaned at three months and hunt for themselves at four months, when they weigh about 7 pounds (3.2 kg). This fox growls, barks, or yaps, but is less vocal than the Red Fox. Other than humans, who shoot, trap, and run over Common Gray Foxes, this species has few enemies. Bobcats, where abundant, and domestic dogs may kill a few. Rabies and distemper are important diseases.
