Have You Seen A Gray Fox In MI? DNR Wants To Hear From You

Have you seen a gray fox wandering around?

While the red fox is familiar to many Michiganders, the smaller, more elusive gray fox also calls Michigan home.

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Wildlife officials are looking to study the rare fox, but need help from residents to pinpoint where this secretive species lives in Michigan.

They have recently partnered with Northern Michigan University, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians to conduct a research project on both red and gray foxes, with some results suggesting gray foxes may be much rarer in Michigan than they previously believed.

Officials are asking anyone who has seen a gray fox, whether recently or years ago, to submit a report. Photographs are especially valuable because they help researchers confirm sightings and gain more clarity on where gray foxes are living in Michigan today.

DNR Furbearer Specialist Cody Norton said gray foxes are one of Michigan's least understood mammals.

"By sharing sightings and photographs, residents can help us get a better sense of where these animals occur and provide information that will shape future research and conservation efforts."

Gray foxes are found throughout much of northern South America as well as North and Central America, including across Michigan, which is at the northernmost point of the species' range.

However, declining trends across many Midwest and Northeast states have led to additional efforts to determine the status of gray fox populations and what factors may be causing declines.

Recent Michigan studies have shown few occurrences of the gray fox from surveys designed for other species across the Upper Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula.

Researchers hope public reports will help determine whether gray foxes are absent from certain areas, simply difficult to detect or occupy habitats that traditional wildlife surveys may miss.

"We've learned that gray foxes often live closer to people than many realize," DNR Upper Peninsula research specialist Tyler Petroelje said. "They use structures such as garages, sheds and outbuildings near wooded areas. Because of that, community scientists may be in the best position to help us understand where gray foxes are occurring. These observations can provide information we simply can't collect through traditional research methods."

Gray foxes can be distinguished from red foxes by their grizzled gray coat, black-tipped tail and reddish coloration on the neck, chest and legs. They are also one of the few members of the dog family capable of climbing trees like a cat, due to their semiretractable claws.

Gray fox (top) and red fox (bottom). Gray foxes are generally smaller than red foxes, with salt-and-pepper gray fur and a black stripe down the tail, and have shorter legs. Unlike red foxes, gray foxes are skilled climbers and can climb trees to escape predators or search for food - Michigan DNR

"Every gray fox sighting helps us better understand a species that has remained largely out of the spotlight," Norton said. "A single photograph or sighting may seem small, but when combined with reports from across the state, it can provide valuable insight into Michigan's gray fox population. Together, those observations can help shape the future of gray fox conservation."

You can submit observations through the DNR Reporting system, Eyes in the Field.