One More Surprise Before Winter Drops Its Curtain!

 

 

      Young Gray Fox  (Spring 2010)

Gray Fox

* Gray Fox weigh about 10 pounds and are nearly 42 inches long, including the tail.

* They have 42 teeth, including four canine teeth.

* Their menu consists of rabbits, mice, voles, chipmunks, squirrels, fruits, vegetables, insects, eggs, birds, corn, amphibians and reptiles.

* Mating season peaks in March with gestation of 51-63 days.  The litter size is 3-4 pups.

* Gray Fox can climb vertical trees.

* A Gray Fox is considered old at 12 years.

This particular night it was so foggy and quite dark.  I pretty much had resigned to the fact that tonight’s picture taking was a complete wash.  Then out came this beautiful little girl.  I had to try.  I noticed there were subtle difference in her colors, but just enough difference that you knew this wasn’t LilSly.  She also seems more petite., and not as leery as LilSly has become.   And of course LilSly has learned Skunks Rule!  One lesson she really needs to learn, and not under my open window!  I say “she” because she was in enough positions that you could see this was not a male.

Description:  The gray fox is often confused with the red fox because the gray has rusty-red fur on its ears, ruffs and neck. Overall coloration is gray, and the darkest color extends in a suggested stripe along the top of the back down to the end of the tail. The belly, throat, and chest areas are whitish in color.
Gray fox appear smaller than red fox. The shorter leg length and stockier body are deceptive. Many gray fox weigh about the same as red fox in the same habitat types. Males and females both weigh 8 to 11 pounds on average. Weights are often about 8 pounds in southern states, and nearer 11 in northern states. Compared to red fox, grays have shorter muzzles and shorter ears which are usually held erect and pointed forward. Many grays stand about 15 inches tall at the shoulders and overall lengths are around 40-44 inches including a tail of 12 to 15 inches.
The claws on a gray fox are strong. They are not retractable. Gray Fox have dark eyes with elliptical pupils. Teeth number 42, including 4 canine teeth. Both male and female gray foxes have a scent gland under the skin on the top of the tail.

 

Range: The gray fox occurs from extreme southern Canada throughout the United States, except in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and most of Washington. It ranges into Mexico and Central America.  There of course can be exceptions due to our climate changes.  I know where I am in Maine, there has been an increase of Gray Fox.  Many folks have never even seen a Gray Fox, until I show them the pictures I’ve taken.

 

 

 

 

 

Reproduction: Gray Fox are thought to mate for life.  Foxes breed from January through March with the gray fox tending to breed two to four weeks later than the red fox. After an average gestation period of 53 days, the female fox gives birth to a litter averaging four or five pups.  The gray fox usually does not use an underground den but, instead, dens in dense brush, cavities in stumps and trees, rock crevices or under out-buildings such as barns and sheds. Most foxes have more than one den and will readily move their young if disturbed. The pups stay in the den until about four to five weeks of age, after which they emerge and begin to play outside the den entrance. Both adults care for the young by bringing food and guarding the den site. At about 12 weeks of age, the pups are weaned and join the adults on hunting forays, learning to catch food for themselves. In the fall, the young disperse from the family unit and will usually breed the first spring after they are born.

 

 

 

 

 

French Fries!

 

 

 

 

Predators:  Predators of the Gray Fox include owls, eagles, and coyotes. What they will have in a given area really depends on where they live. The Gray Fox can be good at getting away though. They can run about 20 miles per hour, swim in the water, or climb trees in order to get away from these predators. The younger ones though aren’t as fast or skilled so it can be harder for them to escape.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are plenty of questions about the past for this species of fox. No one really knows how they evolved or what they stem from. DNA has confirmed they are canines and they do belong in the fox family. However, it also shows us that they aren’t nearly as closely related to each other as the many other species of fox are out there.
It could be that they are very different in order to allow them the chance to survive in the different environments. Their evolution process could account for their success in growing in numbers.

 

The one thing I am sure about is how fortunate I am. To actually have the opportunity to take pictures of such magnificent animals.  The Birds with their Babies, actually able to see the mothers feeding their young. Turkeys and their Babies.  Squirrels with all of their little ones and their antics.  Chipmunks, Raccoons, Skunks and their precious babies, and of course these wonderful Gray Fox.  And the list goes on.  With all of this right outside my bedroom.  I’m able to have my window open, talk with them and take pictures.  And of course pray nothing winds the skunks up and they let loose their double barrel shotgun!