Nature & Wellness #6: Gray Fox

Gray foxes are named for their coloration, but their coasts are not entirely gray. Their fur has areas of rust, white, and black. Their distinguishing characteristic is the black tip on their tails. Gray foxes are shorter and stockier than red foxes, which have white-tipped tails. Gray foxes live 6-8 years in the wild and in captivity, they can live up to 12 years. Gray foxes are omnivores, meaning they eat both animals and plants. Their diet includes small mammals like mice, rats, rabbits, birds, and insects. They also eat fruit, vegetables and carrion. They have a mix of behaviors including climbing trees, territoriality, and a preference for nocturnal and crepuscular activity. They are known for yapping and howling and are often solitary during the winter months. They also utilize scent marking, like other canids, to communicate within their territory.

The musk glands of the gray are the largest of any American canid. Foxes can run up to 30 to 40 miles per hour. Home ranges are about 0.5 to 2 square miles. Foxes have whiskers to help them navigate on both their legs and face. Foxes sleep in the wild more than 8 hours a day. They avoid daytime as much as possible and will snooze until the sun goes down. The average fox sleeps about 10 hours a day, each type of fox has slightly different sleeping hours.

So, are foxes cats or dogs? Foxes are dogs, specifically they are part of the Canidae family, which also includes wolves, dogs, coyotes, and jackals. While they share some feline-like characteristics, their genetic makeup and taxonomic classification place them firmly within the canine family. Gray foxes are also ecologically important. They help regulate small rodent populations, which can reduce the spread of diseases and prevent crop damage. They are also valuable seed dispersers, contributing to the health and diversity of plant communities.