Grey Fox poses for the camera

[Lil' Dog]

Hello,

A guy from work caught a grey fox on his trail cam. In my many years of calling and trapping I have never seen one. This guy lives in Wright County. According to the DNR website grey fox are around this area. How many other people out there have seen or caught a grey fox? I think they are a neat critter.

[hunterfreakhd]

Cool pic.

[gunsmith]

If I were there would that thing bite me or run away?

[LarryFlew]

If he goes after you don't try climbing a tree because he can also. Used to be family of them in an uncles woods WAY back when.

[river_boater]

snip...

Cool picture; I've never seen one in the wild.

[smurfman]

Grey fox are a bit more of a forest animal than the reds, one reason they were not commonly seen in farm country. I have a pair living out behind my house just outside the Met Council's reach and another pair near the cabin by Sturgeon Lake. I trapped a few way back by Pine City but they were few and far between.

As mentioned, they an climb trees as their rear claws are retractable. I found the one behind my house when the dogs treed it. This ability allows greys to better cohabitate with coyotes as they have a means of escape. It is also a sign of their being more of a woodland creature than one of open areas.

I feed the one behind the house table scraps a couple times a week through the winter. I think they are neat creatures and don't mind it being around. I hope my suppliments help keep them away from the neighbor's poultry which will further their longevity. This also seems to help keep rabbit and mice numbers around the house in check, something my wife can appreciate though it puts her dust mop dog at risk.

The ones at the cabin are on their own except during bear season. I have them regularly on my bait camera and theya re regular visitors to the pit when I am there. I've watched them for a couple hours at a time as they search for morsels spilled out of the pit as well as waylay mice and chipmunks which visit. It makes the otherwise boring hours on stand passable.

[Jack's My dog]

Grey fox are a bit more of a forest animal than the reds, one reason they were not commonly seen in farm country. I have a pair living out behind my house just outside the Met Council's reach and another pair near the cabin by Sturgeon Lake. I trapped a few way back by Pine City but they were few and far between.

As mentioned, they an climb trees as their rear claws are retractable. I found the one behind my house when the dogs treed it. This ability allows greys to better cohabitate with coyotes as they have a means of escape. It is also a sign of their being more of a woodland creature than one of open areas.

I feed the one behind the house table scraps a couple times a week through the winter. I think they are neat creatures and don't mind it being around. I hope my suppliments help keep them away from the neighbor's poultry which will further their longevity. This also seems to help keep rabbit and mice numbers around the house in check, something my wife can appreciate though it puts her dust mop dog at risk.

The ones at the cabin are on their own except during bear season. I have them regularly on my bait camera and theya re regular visitors to the pit when I am there. I've watched them for a couple hours at a time as they search for morsels spilled out of the pit as well as waylay mice and chipmunks which visit. It makes the otherwise boring hours on stand passable.

Do the fox take much notice of you when you are on stand?

[blockhead]

We have a litter born under our cabin in Nisswa most years. They are quite the entertainment, but the yowl they make in the middle of the night makes your hair stand up. Fortunately, the yowl happens out in the woods and not right under the floor.

[gunsmith]

They eat your pet cats and dogs I assume.

[BigBlue]

We have a litter born under our cabin in Nisswa most years. They are quite the entertainment, but the yowl they make in the middle of the night makes your hair stand up. Fortunately, the yowl happens out in the woods and not right under the floor.

I think I've heard that before at a friend's place in the woods up northeast of Elk River. Very odd sound from what I recall. Someone said it was a grey fox.

[smurfman]

Do the fox take much notice of you when you are on stand?

Not unless I move and even then not if it isn't looking in my direction to begin with. I think they are only a little more aware of what happens in trees than deer but certainly less so than coyotes, wolves, or bears.

[smurfman]

They eat your pet cats and dogs I assume.

They tend to give the barn cats a decently wide berth, at about 12 pounds tops the greys aren't much bigger than the cats. I have no doubt they would take a kitten or smaller cat if unaware but the full grown ones seem pretty safe. The amount of work and injury needed to take an alert cat is probably not worth it on the risk analysis tables. Great Horned Owls and coyotes are the main animal predators of cats in these parts. Coyotes seem to relish them quite a bit.

I also have no doubt they would take a small, clueless dog the size of a grey or smaller as many of them do not have much of a killer instinct, the ability to deliever a good bit, or the mobility needed to defend themselves. A Jack Russel would probably be an exception only due to its spastic nature which would probably confuse the fox.

[Lil' Dog]

The little grey returned to pose for more pictures. It was eating the apple flavored deer food that he put out. It ate for awhile, then pooped in the pile of food before leaving. I don't know why it would poop in the food, unless it was marking it, or its territory, or both.

[sgruenhagen44]

I guess I'm no fox expert but I have seen quite a few. Not sure if they were red or grey or what is more rare. I used to work at the Lexus Dealership of HWY 61 in Maplewood and we would see one all the time harassing the honkers. I think he would raid their nests or something. Smoked one with my bow and have seen a couple around my parents in North St Paul. Saw another one by Cedar Lake in Minneapolis when we were taking our canoe out late after musky fishing.

[river_boater]

Smoked one with my bow and have seen a couple around my parents in North St Paul.

Did you eat it?