Minnesota Seasons

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
SNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

Description

The fur (pelage) is mostly grizzled, pepper and salt gray. The lower sides, sides of the neck, legs, feet, and back of ears are rusty-yellow. It does not have black “socks”. The tail has a black median stripe and a black tip.

Size

Total length: 30″ to 44″

Head and body: 21″ to 29″

Tail: 11″ to 16″

Sign

Similar Species

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) pellage is yellowish-red. The tail does not have a black median stripe. The tip of the tail is white. The feet have black “socks”.

Habitat

Hardwood forests and woodlands

Ecology

Behavior

Lifespan

6 to 8 years

Life Cycle

Food

Distribution
		Sources 6, 7, 24, 29, 30. Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/13/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records.
12/13/2025





Occurrence
Common in the southeast, uncommon elsewhere

Taxonomy

Class

Mammalia (Mammals)

Subclass

Theria

Infraclass

Placentalia (Placental Mammals)

Magnorder

Boreoeutheria

Superorder

Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivorans, and Allies)

Order

Carnivora (Carnivorans)

Suborder

Caniformia (Dog-like Carnivores)

Infraorder

Cynoidea

Family

Canidae (Canids)

Subfamily

Caninae

Tribe

incertae sedis (uncertain placement)

Genus

Urocyon (Gray Foxes)

Subordinate Taxa

California gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. californicus)

Costa Rican gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. costaricensis)

eastern gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. cinereoargenteus)

Florida gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. floridanus)

Guatemalan gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. guatemalae)

Madras gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. madrensis)

Panama gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. furvus)

Peninsula gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. peninsularis)

Prairie gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. ocythous)

Scott’s gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. scottii)

southwest Mexican gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. nigrirostris)

Tehuantepec gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. orinomus)

Townsend’s gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. townsendi)

Venezuelan gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. venezuelae)

Yucatan gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus ssp. fraterculus)

Synonyms

Canis cinereoargentatus

Canis cinereoargenteus

Canis virginianus

Urocyon californicus

Urocyon guatemalae

Urocyon parvidens

Vulpes pensylvanicus

Common Names

common gray fox

gray fox

Glossary

Pelage

The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.

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Pete Schultz