by Chris Thompson
After a brief hiatus, the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve trail cameras are back in action. For the winter, the cameras have been relocated to some creekside locations in the reserve in hopes of catching some of Schmeeckle’s inhabitants in action.
This month, we are highlighting the little seen and smallest of Wisconsin’s member of the dog family – the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). They range in size from 10-15 pounds and are about 3 feet long with tail, and, as their name implies, have an overall gray color with orange and white markings interspersed.
Distiguishing between the gray fox and the more commonly seen red fox (which also calls Schmeeckle Reserve home) with night pictures can be difficult. Notice the darkish strip down the tail, lack of dark “stockings” that the red fox often possesses, and the facial markings. Also, gray fox tend to be a bit smaller with shorter legs than their more common cousin.
Gray fox are the most omnivorous member of the dog family found in Wisconsin. Their wide-ranging diet includes insects, fruits, small mammals, birds, seeds, and nuts. These resourceful creatures have even been known to cache seeds and nuts in fall. Carrion is also utilized, as evident from last year’s Friends of Schmeeckle trail cam pictures capturing a family of gray fox visiting a deer kill!
These small canids are not only predators but also fall prey to a number of Wisconsin’s larger predatory animals, including wolves, coyotes, bobcats, eagles, and even fishers. In Wisconsin, there is a limited trapping season for gray fox that requires a trapping license.
Gray fox are often referred to as “catlike” due to the way they move about, their almost exclusive nocturnal nature, and their ability to climb trees with semi-retractable claws. Also, while red fox usually use underground dens, gray fox often den in tree hollows, sometimes many meters up.
If in Schmeeckle Reserve around dawn or dusk, keep your eyes out for the interesting – gray fox.