Gray fox has unique talent
Climbing high into trees is one of their specialties
What makes Lake County so special is its abundant wildlife. Where else can you see bears, mountain lions and other wildlife? One of the favorite creatures of local residents is the gray fox.
Gray foxes are common throughout the county but are rarely seen because they are most active at night. They are also shy creatures. With an adult only weighing from 8-10 pounds, they are one of the smallest of the Carnivora family. The gray fox goes back more than 3 million years. Unlike its shy cousin the red fox, the gray quickly adapts to humans and has been known to venture into backyards and even take up residence in barns and sheds. The gray fox is often seen at Clear Lake State Park.
Foxes breed from January through March and the gray fox tends to breed two to four weeks later than the red fox. After an average gestation period of 53 days, the female fox gives birth to a litter averaging four to five pups.
The gray fox usually does not use an underground den but prefers to live in dense brush, cavities in stumps and trees, rock crevices or beneath outbuildings such as barns and sheds. Most foxes have more than one den and will readily move their young if disturbed. The pups stay in the den until about four to five weeks of age after which they emerge and begin to play outside the den entrance. Both adults care for the young by bringing food and guarding the den site. At about 12 weeks of age, the pups are weaned and join the adults on hunting forays, learning to catch food by themselves. In the fall, the young disperse from the family unit and usually breed the first spring after they are born.
One unusual trait of the gray fox is its ability to climb trees. The gray fox has been known to climb as high as 70 feet in a tree. It is not unusual to see several young foxes sitting 30 feet up. They are the only member of the canine family in North American that has this ability.
Foxes have pointed ears, an elongated snout and a long, bushy tail that is carried horizontally. The gray fox is somewhat stout and has shorter legs than the red fox. Its coat is mostly grizzled-gray. The sides of the neck, back of the ears, a band across the chest, the inner and back surfaces of the legs, the feet, the sides of the belly and beneath the surface of the tail are all reddish-brown. The cheeks, throat, inner ears and most of the underside are white. The upper part of the tail, including the tip, is black. Adult foxes have few predators, however feral dogs and
coyotes likely will not tolerate foxes within their territories and will kill them.
In Lake County, it is not unusual for a family of foxes to take up residence beneath a shed or barn. Foxes are frequently found within the city limits of Lakeport and Clearlake. Since they spend most of their time feeding at night, they can go months without being seen by the homeowner.
A baby fox is called a kit or pup and the mother is called a vixen. The male is called a Reynard. The adults make a sound such as a sharp and highpitched bark.
The gray fox is just another example of the abundance of wildlife in Lake County. While many people feed foxes and try to domesticate them, it is illegal to feed foxes or any wildlife because that makes them dependent on humans for food and they will not hunt. This can result in death by starvation.