Gray fox
Scientific name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Gray foxes are small canids with salt-and-pepper gray dorsal fur, rusty flanks, and a black stripe running along the spine to the tail tip; the underside is white to buff. Males average slightly larger than females, with males weighing 3.6–5.5 kg and females 2.7–3.6 kg; both sexes measure 50–68 cm in body length.
Size and weight
Males: 3.6–5.5 kg, 53–68 cm body length. Females: 2.7–3.6 kg, 50–63 cm body length.
Habitat
Gray foxes inhabit mixed woodlands, brushy ravines, chaparral, and scrubland with dense understory cover. They prefer broken terrain with rocky outcrops and are found from sea level to approximately 1,500 m elevation.
Distribution
Gray foxes range from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to northwestern South America. In North America, they favor brushy and wooded habitats in the Southwest, Southeast, and California, avoiding open grasslands and dense forests.
Diet
Gray foxes eat small mammals (rodents, rabbits), insects, fruits (especially persimmons and berries in autumn), and carrion; diet shifts toward more fruit and insects in fall and winter.
Behaviour
Primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, with peaks of activity at dawn and dusk; solitary or paired, with minimal pack structure. They are excellent climbers and den in burrows, rock crevices, or hollow trees.
Hunting tips
Look for small, four-toed tracks (2.5–4 cm) in soft soil near water sources and rocky outcrops; droppings are thin and often contain fur or fruit. Hunt brushy draws and woodland edges during dawn and dusk when foxes are active; move quietly into wind, using terrain folds to stalk. Focus on areas with dense cover adjacent to open feeding grounds where foxes transition between shelter and foraging areas.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.