Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is in the Canids family (Canidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 32,097 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Gray Fox: observations by month (U.S.)
About Gray Fox
The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), or grey fox, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout northern and central America. This species and its only congener, the diminutive Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis), are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be the most basal of the living canids. Though it was once the most common fox in the eastern United States, and still is found there, human advancement...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Gray Fox by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 12,304 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Texas | 9,858 | April | Mar–Feb |
| Arizona | 1,460 | November | Oct–Sep |
| North Carolina | 905 | June | May–Apr |
| Vermont | 814 | January | May–Mar |
| Florida | 613 | May | Apr–Mar |
| New Mexico | 600 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 554 | June | May–Apr |
| New York | 540 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Oregon | 490 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Missouri | 417 | February | Dec–Oct |
| Georgia | 325 | April | Jan–Nov |
| Alabama | 286 | February | Jan–Dec |
| Pennsylvania | 273 | June | Dec–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 266 | March | Oct–Aug |
| Virginia | 213 | June | May–Apr |
| Utah | 212 | October | May–Nov |
| Minnesota | 194 | September | Aug–Jul |
| Maine | 191 | June | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 173 | October | May–Nov |
| Tennessee | 154 | May | Aug–Jun |
| Connecticut | 144 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Arkansas | 130 | November | May–Jan |
| Oklahoma | 109 | July | Jan–Nov |
| South Carolina | 106 | June | Sep–Jul |
| Louisiana | 98 | January | Aug–May |
| Mississippi | 92 | January | Sep–Feb |
| Michigan | 84 | August | Jul–Jun |
| Nevada | 76 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 74 | July | Feb–Jul |
| West Virginia | 73 | September | Sep–Feb |
| Ohio | 70 | August | Apr–Aug |
| Maryland | 56 | October | Jul–Nov |
| New Jersey | 53 | May | Apr–Feb |
| Kentucky | 25 | May | May–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 22 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 11 | July | May–Jul |
| Illinois | 10 | February | Oct–Feb |
| Kansas | 8 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 5 | October | Sep–Oct |
| South Dakota | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Canids)
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gray Fox?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to August.
Where is Gray Fox most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Arizona.