Gray Fox

The sighting of a fox always brings a smile to my face. Between the Red Fox and the Gray Fox, the former is more familiar to me. But since I started working at Point Reyes National Seashore in late June, I have seen only 1 Red Fox and have had maybe a dozen Gray Fox sightings. Unfortunately, most of my sightings have been on my morning commute via my headlights. And then, I only see the rear end of the fox as it disappears into the brush or up a driveway. My first good view of the Gray Fox occurred when I arrived home from a day of photography. It was about dusk and I saw 2 foxes in the corner of the parking lot by my apartment. I was elated but they quickly scrambled up the hill. I stopped my car right where it was, grabbed my camera, and walked up a driveway along the hill. Very quickly, I spotted one of the foxes under a tree. It appeared comfortable with my presence and allowed a good look.

A Gray Fox takes shelter under a Cypress Tree by the Lighthouse Apartments. Sony a9 + 100-400mm lens & 1.4x teleconverter @560 mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/40. ©Stanley Buman. All Rights Reserved.

Gray foxes can be found in a wide variety of habitats but seem to prefer wooded and brushy country, often in rocky or broken terrain. They are mostly nocturnal and sleep during the day.

A Gray Fox paused for a photo shoot at dusk on a rock ledge near the Lighthouse. Sony a9 + 100-400mm lens & 1.4x teleconverter @560 mm, ISO 1250, f/8, 1/15. ©Stanley Buman. All Rights Reserved.

I have taken many walks at dusk to look for the fox but have only glimpsed it near my apartment one other time. Gray Fox can climb trees. Maybe I should spend more time looking thru the Cypress by the Lighthouse. I look forward to the next sighting.

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