The gray fox has rather short legs, which it uses to climb trees in order to get food or seek refuge. The gray fox has a silvery-gray coat with conspicuous patches of yellow, brown, rust, or white on the throat and belly. Black tipped guard hairs form a dark line down its back to the tip of the tail.
The gray fox is the most common fox in California, mainly populating coastal or mountain forests at lower elevations. They rarely dig their own dens. Instead they will rest in crevices, under boulders, or in hollow logs.
Secretive and mostly nocturnal, the gray fox is an excellent hunter. Their main diet consists of small rodents, birds and berries, but they will also eat insects, eggs, acorns and fungi.
Mating begins in January and 3-5 pups are born in February or March. Pups will begin to hunt after 3 months. The family group remains together until the autumn, when the young reach sexual maturity, then they disperse.
