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Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) has black hair along the middle of the back and the tail is tipped in black, giving the appearance of a black mane. The face, sides, back and tail are gray, while the under parts are white and the sides of the neck and underside of the tail are a rusty-yellow color.

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is red over most of the body and has a white tip on the end of its tail. It is normally found in more open areas during the daytime and uses open fields and wooded areas at night. 

The gray fox is found throughout Florida, though it is much more abundant in the northern part of the state. Normally found in wooded areas, it prefers to live in more dense, inaccessible cover. 

Red fox range has expanded across Florida and they are now considered naturalized.  A naturalized species is a species not native to an area but has adapted and established a stable or expanding population and does not require human assistance for survival and reproduction.

The red fox is normally found in uplands mixed with fields and weedy pastures.  Unlike the gray fox, it avoids heavily wooded areas.

The gray fox is nocturnal, and while seldom recognized, it has a yapping bark. Sometimes referred to as the tree fox — it is one of the few members of the dog family capable of climbing trees. To climb, they use their front legs to hug tree trunks while pushing up with their hind legs. To get back down, gray foxes will either move backwards down vertical tree trunks or run head-first down more slanted trees. 

Mating takes place in January, February or March. An average of 3 to 5 young (pups) are born after a gestation period of about 63 days. They nurse for about two months and stay with their parents until late summer or fall. Both the male and female provide food, care and training to the youngsters. The den site may be hollow logs, gopher holes or hollow trees.

Mice, rats and rabbits are the mainstays of the gray fox's diet, although it will consume almost anything edible. All types of small birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, fruits, berries, insects, and some carrion serve to supplement the diet. The gray fox seldom raids the farmer's hen house, as it prefers to live in wilder, denser brushy cover. While gray fox serve to maintain a balance in the rodent and rabbit populations, they in turn are preyed upon by dogs and bobcats. Young fox may fall prey to owls, hawks or coyotes.

The red fox is essentially a nocturnal animal. While it may occasionally feed during the day, it is more likely to be active at dawn or dusk. They mainly eat small mammals such as rabbits, rats, and mice.  If food is plentiful, they may kill more than they immediately need, and cache the extra in the ground. 

Breeding takes place in late fall or early winter. A pair usually mates for life. An average of 5 pups are born after a gestation period of about 53 days.  At birth the pups are blind, helpless, and brownish-black. They nurse for about two months and stay with the adults for about 6 months.  The red fox usually digs its own burrow, though sometimes they enlarge a gopher tortoise or armadillo burrow.  The dens are usually 20 to 40 feet long and 3 to 4 deep with multiple entrances.

Secure all possible food sources, including pet food and garbage. Do not directly feed foxes or other wildlife. It is illegal to feed foxes in Florida. Even if a fox is not eating the food you put out for birds or other wildlife, feeding stations can concentrate prey species and draw predators to your property. Haze any fox that is seen in a community or near homes or livestock. Yell, use air horns or throw rocks towards but not at the fox to discourage the animal from being in an  unwelcome place. Properly pen small livestock such as chickens and quail in enclosures that cannot be accessed by foxes or other predators. Foxes can jump and dig so enclosures should be completely enclosed or measures taken to prevent foxes from jumping or digging into a pen.  Do not leave small domestic pets outdoors or on screened enclosures unattended. 

Hunting foxes by trapping or shooting is illegal in Florida. A fox can be taken as a nuisance animal if it causes or is about to cause property damage, presents a threat to public safety, or causes an annoyance in, under, or upon a building, per Florida Rule 68A-9.010 

Information and photos are provided by: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission  

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