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Status:
Least Concern
The Gray Fox is widespread in forest, woodland, brushland, shrubland, and rocky habitats in temperate and tropical regions of North America, and in northernmost montane regions of South America. There is no good evidence that Gray Fox numbers are increasing or decreasing in any part of their range. The species is not considered threatened at present.
Population trend: Stable
(Click on map for more detail)
Habitat and Ecology: In eastern North America, the Gray Fox is most closely associated with deciduous/southern pine forests interspersed with some old fields and scrubby woodlands (Hall 1981). In western North America, it is commonly found in mixed agricultural/woodland/chaparral/riparian landscapes and shrub habitats. The species occupies forested areas and thick brush habitats in Central America and forested montane habitats in South America (Eisenberg 1989). Grey Foxes occur in semi-arid areas of the southwestern USA and northern Mexico where cover is sufficient. They appear to do well on the margins of some urban areas (Harrison 1997).
Major Threats: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, may
be particularly problematic in regions where human numbers are increasing
rapidly and important habitat is converted for agricultural, industrial, and
urban uses.
Because of its relatively lower fur quality compared with other species,
commercial use of the Gray Fox is somewhat limited. However, 90,604 skins were
taken in the United States during the 1991 and 1992 season (Linscombe 1994). In
Mexico, Gray Foxes are frequently sold illegally as pets (R. List pers. comm.).
Gray Fox - © Karen Brown
For more photos and videos of this and other wild canid species, see:
(from Canids: Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Dogs - 2004 Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan)
English: grey fox, tree fox; Spanish: Gato Cervan, Gato De Monte, Zorro, Zorro Gris, Zorro Plateado