Gray Foxes Are Expanding Their Range

Donald McAlpine evaluates the possible reasons for why Gray Foxes are expanding their range northward into Southern Canada and Northern Maine. He cites warming temperatures as a possible explanation. Instead of Spruce/fir woodlands, the warmer weather might be encougaging northern hardwoods (beech/birch, etc) which the Gray Fox finds comfortable to inhabit. Another possibility for this range expansion is that red foxes might be being culled by coyotes.  It is well known that red foxes tend to outcompete Gray foxes when the two inhabit the same region. I postulate that with the arrival of the Eastern Coyote(Coywolf), Gray foxes began to reclaim their historical Southern Canadian habitat. The gray fox is able to climb trees whereas the Red fox lacks this ability. As a result, the "Grays" can often escape their Coywolf foe by hiding in the branches(coyotes do not climb trees) and have been able to take over vacant red fox territory during these past 30 years. One creatures woes is another creatures gain.....................and so goes the ebb and flow of mother nature.

click here to read entire article