Post by Bobcat on Sept 5, 2003 6:28:50 GMT -5
The grey fox is found throughout most of Texas. Here is some basic information about them. They are one of the most fun predators to call.
Grey Fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Range and Habitat
The grey fox ranges from southern Canada to Venezuela in South America. It has only a few populations south of the US and in Canada. They are found in a large variety of habitats, and are usually found near cities.
Physical Appearance
The grey fox's coloration is not usually grey, only parts of it are. It is cinnamon yellow with silver highlights in the face. They live in the warmer parts of the world, so they do not have a double coat; instead they have a single layer of course fur. Their legs are shorter than their red cousins. Unlike most Vulpes foxes, the grey has more ovular pupils than the more slit like ones of the red.
The species name cinereoargenteus comes from the Greek words cinereus(ash-colored) and argenteus(silver), describing the color of the fox.
Diet
Grey foxes eat small mammals and wild birds, as well as insects, fruit and vegetation. Their diet varies within their range. Some tend to be more insectivorous, some eat more vegetation, and some eat more meat, depending on what is available as prey. They rarely prey on domestic fowl. They are nocturnal, and so tend to hunt at night.
Reproduction and Social Behavior
The pair mates for life, and form a range together. Grey foxes, though not as territorial as red foxes, still maintain a territory and mark it off regularly with urine and fecal deposits. Their mating season is affected by the latitude in which they live; the higher north they are, the later the breeding season. It can be anywhere from January to May. After the gestation period of 2 months, the female gives birth to 4-10 all black young, called kits, in an underground den which was dug by another creature. Their dens can also be located in trees. Their dens tend to be more in the ground the further north they live. The kits are weaned in 6 weeks, and hunt on their own at 4 months. They get their set of adult teeth at this age as well. The young foxes usually disperse at one year.
They are nocturnal creatures, and spend much of the daylight hours in underground burrows that are abandoned dens of other species. They come out at night to hunt small mammals and birds. If threatened, the grey fox will seek shelter in their burrows, or even by climbing up trees, and waiting for the danger to pass. The grey fox is unique in its cat-like ability to scale trees. They have strong, hooked claws that enable them to climb trees.
Grey Fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Range and Habitat
The grey fox ranges from southern Canada to Venezuela in South America. It has only a few populations south of the US and in Canada. They are found in a large variety of habitats, and are usually found near cities.
Physical Appearance
The grey fox's coloration is not usually grey, only parts of it are. It is cinnamon yellow with silver highlights in the face. They live in the warmer parts of the world, so they do not have a double coat; instead they have a single layer of course fur. Their legs are shorter than their red cousins. Unlike most Vulpes foxes, the grey has more ovular pupils than the more slit like ones of the red.
The species name cinereoargenteus comes from the Greek words cinereus(ash-colored) and argenteus(silver), describing the color of the fox.
Diet
Grey foxes eat small mammals and wild birds, as well as insects, fruit and vegetation. Their diet varies within their range. Some tend to be more insectivorous, some eat more vegetation, and some eat more meat, depending on what is available as prey. They rarely prey on domestic fowl. They are nocturnal, and so tend to hunt at night.
Reproduction and Social Behavior
The pair mates for life, and form a range together. Grey foxes, though not as territorial as red foxes, still maintain a territory and mark it off regularly with urine and fecal deposits. Their mating season is affected by the latitude in which they live; the higher north they are, the later the breeding season. It can be anywhere from January to May. After the gestation period of 2 months, the female gives birth to 4-10 all black young, called kits, in an underground den which was dug by another creature. Their dens can also be located in trees. Their dens tend to be more in the ground the further north they live. The kits are weaned in 6 weeks, and hunt on their own at 4 months. They get their set of adult teeth at this age as well. The young foxes usually disperse at one year.
They are nocturnal creatures, and spend much of the daylight hours in underground burrows that are abandoned dens of other species. They come out at night to hunt small mammals and birds. If threatened, the grey fox will seek shelter in their burrows, or even by climbing up trees, and waiting for the danger to pass. The grey fox is unique in its cat-like ability to scale trees. They have strong, hooked claws that enable them to climb trees.
