Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge will release a gray fox back into the wild

The orphaned gray fox was a few weeks old when brought to the refuge.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge will be releasing a gray fox from their care this week, since she has shown the ability to live in the wild.

A gray fox is mainly distinguished by its black-tipped tail, and is readily differentiated from the red fox by the lack of “black stockings” that stand out on the latter and the stripe of black hair that runs along the middle of the tail.

A gray fox displays white on the ears, throat, chest, belly and hind legs. Though it was once the most common fox in the eastern U.S., human advancement and deforestation allowed the red fox to become more dominant. The Pacific States still have the gray fox as a dominant.

They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular and makes its den in hollow trees, stumps or appropriated burrows and can climb trees to escape a predator. The gray fox is omnivorous with a varied diet that includes fruits and vegetables.

“The orphaned gray fox was a few weeks old when we received her and was already feisty after having been partially raised by her own mother. Generally, we never raise these animals alone but she had the necessary behaviors necessary to finish her development alone,” Assistant Director Mike O’Malley said regarding the

“After brief treatment in our rehab hospital, she was moved to an outdoor enclosure to learn to forage, climb and live independently,” Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Lori Swanson said.

Cedar Run rehabbers provide weeks and even months of care to ensure the success of an animal’s recovery, and treats more than 4,700 wild animals each year.