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To keep this from happening, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has included gray foxes in the furbearer trapping and hunting season from December through February. This can quickly lead to the population outgrowing the carrying capacity of the environment, resulting in loss of food, loss of habitat, and spreading of disease. Their diet varies by age class, sex, season, and geographic region. Gray foxes are able to mate at 1 year of age. Females have silver-gray or brown fur which may or may not have scattered dark spots. Gray foxes make their dens in crevices, caves, hollow logs, trees, or burrows in the ground. They usually weigh between 3 and 5 kg, but can weigh up to 9 kg. Gray foxes are medium-sized canids with elongated bodies and relatively short legs.
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However, new born pups tend to be dark brown.
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The den is then left until the next year, and the same male and female will come back together to produce and raise another litter. Fully grown gray foxes display a mix of white, red, black and gray fur. Within another month, they are able to hunt on their own.
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At about 3 months old, the kits are taken out of the den to be taught how to hunt. The female prepares a den and tends to the kits, while the male hunts for food. The gestation period lasts an average of 53 days, and a litter will have up to seven kits. The male typically pairs with one female in its lifetime unless that female dies. Start at time 12:57 for info about squirrels.įacebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Illinois Department of Natural Resources United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration United States Department of Agriculture National Great Rivers Research and Education Center University of Illinois Extension 2wav inc.The mating season for gray foxes is usually between January and April depending on climate and location. This Living with Wildlife in Illinois Q&A video provides more information about hair loss in squirrels. These fungal infections are also not transmittable to people or pets.
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Most squirrels develop an immunity to this type of infection, and their fur eventually grows back normally. Squirrels with fungal infections typically have patches of fur that are much shorter than the rest of their fur.
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Skin fungal infections are responsible for most of the fur loss we see in squirrels. Notoedric mange can be transmitted from squirrel to squirrel, but other animals and people are not at risk. Squirrels infected with mange often fully recover, although those with severe fur loss may not survive a cold winter. You may also see some scabs on the squirrel’s skin, because it scratches at itself to relieve the itching caused by the mites.
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Notoedric mange, caused by a mite, causes large patches of fur to fall out and the skin to become dark and thick. The fur loss can be the result of several conditions, including a harmless hereditary condition, though the most common reasons for fur loss in squirrels are mange and fungal infections. Usually this condition is nothing to worry about. Of course, some scat will begin to dry out and look different with age, so if you really know your business, youll be able to tell how long ago the animal. People sometimes see squirrels with patches of missing fur and get concerned.
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