Gray Fox

General Information 

Four species of foxes live in North America. Two of these species, the red fox and the gray fox, live in Ohio. Gray foxes are found in wooded, brushy, or rocky areas with limited human disturbance. Their range extends from southern Canada south to the northern edge of South America. As more forest is cleared for development, gray foxes have less habitat available. This habitat loss has made more room for red foxes, which tend to be more adaptable than gray foxes. 
 
Gray foxes are named for their coloration, but their coats 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. 
 
Adult gray foxes are generally solitary and have an average home range of 1–2 miles. They are very territorial and will mark their scent throughout their territory to warn other animals of their presence. A gray fox will come together with other gray foxes only to mate and raise young. Gray foxes are monogamous and usually have one litter of four to five kits each spring. Gray foxes live and raise their young in dens. These dens can be dug by the fox itself or made in a hollowed log, a rock crevice, or the abandoned burrow of another mammal. Parents work cooperatively to teach and care for their young. By fall of the same year, kits are independent enough to go off on their own and establish their own territories.

Meet Our Gray Foxes 

Two gray foxes, Ash and Buckeye, live in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Buckeye & Ash 

In April 2016, gray foxes Buckeye and Ash were born in Minnesota. They were hand-raised, which meant they never learned to hunt, protect themselves from predators, or find shelter in the wild. Unable to be released, they needed a safe place in captivity. Buckeye and Ash came to live at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in the summer of 2016.  

Lifespan 

Wild: 6–8 years 
Captivity: 10–12 years 

Fun Facts 

• The gray fox is one of only two canine species that can climb trees. The other is the Asian raccoon dog.
• When food is plentiful, a gray fox will cache its food to eat at a later time. It digs a hole to place the food in and then covers it. To make it easier to relocate the food, the fox will urinate on the spot or mark it with scent.
• Gray foxes are normally nocturnal or crepuscular—most active during nighttime hours. However, a daytime sighting of a fox does not necessarily mean it is sick. Foxes are opportunistic and will hunt for food whenever necessary, regardless of time of day.
• Gray foxes eat small mammals, birds, insects, and a variety of fruit.