If you suspect your dog has been in close contact with a fox and is showing signs of hair loss and peeling skin, call your veterinarian for further advice. Baird was also the first curator of the Smithsonian Institute. It was named by 19th-century naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird in 1857. There are only two species in this genus. ![]() It’s a proud member of the genus Urocyon and the family Canidae. Mange is communicable to other animals and people, but not without close contact. The gray fox’s binomial name is Urocyon cinereoargenteus. If you or your pet is bitten by a fox, call your doctor, veterinarian, or local Health Department immediately.įoxes can carry mange - a skin disease caused by parasitic mites. Keep cats indoors - especially young kittens - to avoid confrontations. Always supervise pets in a fenced yard or keep them on a leash when possible. It is not common for foxes to pursue full-grown cats and dogs, but they may perceive kittens or small puppies as prey. This can increase aggressive behavior, which in turn can lead to small pets or children being bitten. Do not feed foxes or try to ‘domesticate’ them. They are afraid of humans and will typically avoid them unless habituated or sick. Parents often move young to new dens every few weeks to protect them from predators.Ĭonsider breeding season when planning animal damage control activity in order to avoid orphaning young.įoxes adapt to urban and suburban areas. The remainder of their pelage is usually a variation of reds and browns with buff or gray underfur. Coloration of their upper-parts appears grizzled as a result of multi-colored guard hairs. Mating typically occurs between December and February, with pups born in March and April and an average litter size of 3 to 6 pups. The gray fox is easily distinguishable from the red fox in that they have a mane of short, stiff black hairs along the back leading to a black-tipped tail. The breeding season for foxes varies by region. ![]() They may pursue easy food sources such as unsecured chicken coops, pet rabbits or guinea pigs, outdoor pet food, and garbage. They tend to be opportunistic feeders, consuming small mammals, rabbits, birds, eggs, insects, fruit, and poultry. However, it is not uncommon to see either species foraging during the day, especially during the breeding season.įoxes den in burrows, wood piles, rocky outcrops, hollow trees, and brush piles, as well as under sheds and decks. They have retractable claws which makes them adept tree climbers, and they prefer heavier cover such as dense hardwood or mixed wood forests, swamps, and areas along rivers and streams.īoth red and gray foxes are largely crepuscular meaning active during dawn and dusk hours, but are also nocturnal. Gray foxes are primarily a salt-and-pepper gray above with yellow-tan underfur and a black-tipped tail. They prefer open woodlots interspersed with farmlands. Red foxes typically are light orange-red in color with black legs, a light-colored underbody, and a white-tipped tail. Foxes are a member of the canine (dog) family, with a long, pointed muzzle, large pointed ears, and a bushy tail. Red and gray foxes are both found in most areas of North America.
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