Have you ever heard what a gray fox sounds like? It may not be what you would expect. Gray foxes, along with red foxes and other species, have a variety of interesting vocalizations. These can come in the form of yelps, howls, screams, whines, and screeches that are used for communication. The most common vocalization for the gray fox is the one heard in this video - a very coarse, gravelly bark. You might be able to guess this has made for the occasional confused and startled camper as well. Li

Stopping by to wish you a happy #NationalFoxDay 🦊 Fast gray fox facts (say that three times fast 😳): 👉Gray foxes are the only canid in North America that can climb trees. They use their strong, hooked claws to climb up trunks and even rest on branches. 👉They're speedy and elusive, able to dart through dense trees and bushes where larger predators can’t follow. 👉 Like other foxes, they rely on sharp hearing and smell to detect prey moving underground or rustling in the leaves. #utahshoglezoo

And she’s off! 🦊💨 We were able to collar another gray fox this week - this time, an adult female in southern Iowa. Her collar will help us track her movements, and we also were able to check her for parasites and disease. She looked to be in good shape, and was ready to get back to her neck of the woods. Gray foxes are different than the more common red fox (note the darker fur on her back). Gray fox were listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa in 2015 based on a decline in t