Okay I am tired of researching. I am planning on starting a project in the very near future, and need some factual information. In particular, I want to know if the Gray Fox predates specifically on the Eastern Gray Squirrel as part of their normal diet. I was told that it is not a normal food source for them. Many internet sites claim they eat squirrels, but do not mention specific species of squirrels. Other sites make no mention of squirrels. I appreciate all the information you can give me. Thank You!
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SS;
First of all,all fox are opportunistic feeders. Which means they will take any food that's available to them. The Grey Fox is usually a solitary hunter, and eats a wide variety of foods. The eastern grey squirrel is probably on it's diet if it can catch it. But don't think just because the grey fox can climb trees that it chases squirrels in the trees. They climb trees to escape from an enemy. They're really not that agile in a tree.
The main diet of the grey fox would be the cottontail rabbit. It will also hunt for mice, voles, birds, and even birds eggs. They will also suppliment their diet with fruits and vegetables.
Coyote
Where I live, western NY state, Greys hunt in family units as well as alone. I cant tell you how many times Ive watched a pair work an area. Ask Charlie Gossett or Dave from (formerly) Van Dykes about the greys barking at me at night while were on the phone, hahaha. Greys around here main diet is mice, then grapes, raspberries and cherries. Then comes snakes and frogs, grain, birds or the odd rabbit or young animals and eggs. I doubt they have much opportunity at squirrels unless its juveniles in a nest. Wondering how I know? I have a long driveway, and those greys leave me "proof" every morning, lol!
ss, I'm glad to see this question here. I have a friend who was bowhunting deer from a treestand a few years back. He witnessed a remarkable hunt put on by a pair of grey foxes. They ran to the base of a tree where a squirrel had climbed after seeing the predators. One fox lay down in the leaves and the other walked straight away out of sight. After a long wait the squirrel came down and paid no attention to the motionless fox which snapped the squirrel up when it jumped to the ground. My friend said the fox bite the squirrel, tossed it into the air and snapped it again as it came down. It then carried the squirrel as it followed the trail of the other fox. I have seen a grey fox eat an apple core under my treestand and watched one hunt roosting birds in bushes right at dusk by jumping up attempting to snatch a bird with it's teeth. I agree with Coyote on the description, "opportunistic feeders..."as are most predators, but I believe the grey squirrel is a taste known to pretty much all grey foxes. Thousands of squirrels are killed on the roads across this country every day and foxes being the opportunists that they are certainly make use of this source of food. When I was young I had for a short time 4 young grey foxes and I can say for sure that they turned down very few offerings when it came to eating. The grey fox has senses as sharp as any predator and like other wild things, time means nothing to him. If you wanted to mount a grey fox with it's most common prey, a cotton rat might be the best choice for my area, but to mount it with a grey squirrel would be accurate for at least an occasional prey species. My thoughts, Aaron H.