The Unique Tree-Climbing Habits Of New York's Gray Foxes

Every once and a while New Yorkers will spot a fox darting across the roadway. It's also not uncommon to see fox sneaking through your yard looking for mice, rabbits or birds for dinner. What might surprise you is that gray foxes could also be found in your trees.

What?! We could have fox in our trees? How do they get up there? Why would they want to be in a tree? These questions and more will be answered below.

Get our free mobile app

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is a great resource of information regarding the habits of the animals that live among us in the Empire State. Recently I saw a post on the DEC Facebook page that really surprised me. The gray fox can be found in trees!

Not only can the gray fox be found in trees across New York State, the gray are the only North American candid that regularly climbs trees.

Photo by Mitch Mitchell on Unsplash

According to the DEC, they gray fox have curved, semi-retractable claws and rotating wrists that allow them to readily grip and climb. When climbing a tree, gray foxes use their hind legs to move up the trunk, gripping the tree with their front paws. Once off the ground, they will travel by jumping from branch to branch.

The gray fox will climb a tree to escape from predators, and it also provides unique opportunities to look for and obtain food. Gray foxes have even been observed denning in trees!

WOW: 19 Exotic-Looking Animals Surprisingly Found in America

While some are native and others arrived by accident, there are animals living quite happily in the U.S. that will make you say, “No way!” From seriously big cats to the pinkest bird you’ve ever seen, here are some of the most exotic creatures calling America home.

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

LOOK: Here are the states where you are most likely to hit an animal

Hitting an animal while driving is a frightening experience, and this list ranks all 50 states in order of the likelihood of such incidents happening, in addition to providing tips on how to avoid them.

Gallery Credit: Dom DiFurio & Jacob Osborn

15 Chance Wild Animal Encounters In New York

Take a look at these pictures of wild animals taken via smart phone, trail cam and porch cameras around New York State. We share the land with these beautiful creatures we just don't get to see them very often. Thank you to all that shared these pictures!

Gallery Credit: Karolyi

Filed Under: 518 News