Friday, July 22, 2011

I think I was wrong

I think that this fox is a gray fox.  Here's the picture I took, again.
And, here's a file picture I found of a couple of gray foxes.
All the red on the one in my yard was fooling me into thinking this was a variation on a red fox, but, looking a this picture and a few others, I think we're looking at a gray.  What do you think?

I sent a copy of the photo to the New York State conservation magazine "The Conservationist."  Let's see if they answer.

10 comments:

Sharon said...

Looks like it was a gray fox as well. I wouldn't know the difference, is the tail color supposed to be red for a red fox? I'm clueless.

TexWisGirl said...

sure looks like a bit of both! :)

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

Looking forward for the confirmation...

Mystery...

JJRod'z

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

I can see why you thought it was a red fox. Its profile is similar to that of the red, with long thin legs, the forelegs being dark colored. I think of gray foxes being stockier, lower to the ground. Also, red foxes often have dark gray rumps and grizzled tails, usually tipped with a good bit of white. Your photo is not clear enough to see the end of its tail. Tails of gray foxes are dark all the way to the end. I can't wait to see what The Conservationist says.

Dreaming said...

Hmm, I love a mystery! But, I think you may be right.
We saw 5 fox kits a few weeks ago, but haven't seen them since. I'd love to get pictures of them - I'm not sure if they are red or gray. Maybe I need to spend a day or so 'stalking' the area where they were sighted!!

Terry said...

Looks like a gray fox to me, Louise. Yay!

KB said...

My guess was red fox due to the black "socks" but it's tough to tell. I'll be interested to hear what the "experts" have to say!

It's cool that you have foxes visiting!!!! I'm glad that Gina stays indoors!

Leontien said...

hmm from the color and markings i would say yest, but the ears maybe a red one! BUT i am not an expert, i just lived in this country 5 years and i just happen to see my first fox last week! ;-) a red one by the way....

Good luck
Leontien

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

I'm interested to know as well. I'd say red fox because it's head is mostly red, while the grey fox's head is grey. And the darker coloring on your fox looks black, not grey.

~Lisa

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

I just looked at the photos of your previous post and I'm more convinced that your fox is a red fox, not a grey. His ears are black tipped and his legs are black, his chest white, and the orange extends past his belly.
I'm really interested to hear what you find out, though.

~Lisa