Predator Species
There are three species of foxes in Arizona-the red fox,
kit fox, and gray fox. Of these, the 5 ½ to 9 pound gray fox with its rust,
black, and grizzled coloring and black longitudinally striped tail is by far the
most common, occurring wherever there are mountains, wooded country, and broken
terrain. The yellowish and paler red fox is of similar size (2-foot head and
body with a 12 to 16 inch tail) but is uncommon in Arizona, occurring only in
the northeast portions of the state. It can be differentiated from other foxes
by its white-tipped tail and black ears. The 15 to 20 inch long kit fox
(distribution below) has large, out-sized ears, a 9 to12 inch tail, and weighs
less than 4 ½ pounds. This diminutive fox is pale gray or buff in color, with a
black-tipped tail. It is most often seen at night in valleys and on sandy plains
in the southwestern deserts. For all three species, the sexes are similar in
size and pelage.
Natural History
Gray foxes are the most often seen fox in that they are the most numerous
species and are often active during daylight hours. And, although they favor
brushy habitats, rock piles, and desert washes, they also climb trees and can be
found in wooded areas. Kit foxes, on the other hand, prefer sandy areas, are
almost exclusively nocturnal, and spend much of the day underground.
Hunting and Trapping History
More than 95 percent of the foxes taken and trapped in Arizona are undoubtedly
the widely spread gray fox, the red fox occurring mostly on the Navajo Indian
Reservation. Although kit foxes are remarkably easy to trap, their fur is of
little value. Whatever the species, the annual take of about 3,500 foxes by
predator callers and incidental hunters has been relatively stable in recent
years despite any population changes due to rabies and other debilitating
factors. Although the take by trappers once greatly exceeded the total taken by
hunters, the average number of foxes trapped during the past 10 years was far
less than the sport harvest.
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Habitat