The Gray Fox Project

Written by Achilles Seastrom with help from Vince Evelsizer, Iowa DNR and Betsy Penisten, Iowa Wildlife Federation

The gray fox is a unique, charismatic animal. Their tall, inquisitive ears sit high on their heads and fluffy cheeks give their face a distinct diamond shape. Black markings around their large, expressive eyes look like fresh eyeliner perfect for a night out. The gray fox’s bushy tail seems slightly too long for its slim body, but it’s a useful balancing tool when they climb trees. They’re also surprisingly small at ten to twelve pounds (an adult, male raccoon can weight up to thirty-five pounds). Gray foxes are interesting animals, and they’re native to Iowa, so why have so few Iowans ever seen one?

Gray foxes have never been abundant in Iowa. However, based on annual harvest records dating back to 1930, scientists know that their populations were stable historically. This changed in the 1990s, when population sizes began to decrease drastically.

That’s where Vince Evelsizer, David Hoffman and the Department of Natural Resources’ veterinarian, Dr. Rachel Ruden, come into the picture.

Evelsizer and Hoffman are responsible for leading the Furbearer Resources Program at the Iowa Department on Natural Resources (DNR). When Evelsizer began to talk about gray foxes with other furbearer biologists in the Midwest, they realized most Midwestern states were also losing these animals. Collectively, they realized information was fairly lacking about the gray fox in the Midwest.

“When we reviewed the literature, we found there wasn’t much research that exists on gray foxes, especially in the Midwest,” said Evelsizer. “So we had a question, what is driving their population here in Iowa?”

Evelsizer explains that the team had some pretty good hypotheses about possible population decline factors, but they wanted to be certain. More information would help determine their best options for remedying the problem.

Without much available research to understand gray foxes or their population decline, Vince Evelsizer and Dave Hoffman began a pilot gray fox research project within Iowa Department of Natural Resources to find answers.

It began as a pilot project because they knew gray fox numbers were already very low. In 2022, Iowa State University’s Fish & Wildlife Cooperative Unit purchased the first 5 tracking collars for the DNR study.

The same year, the DNR partnered with Iowa Wildlife Federation (IWF) who provide funds and fundraising support. In 2024, with donor support from IWF, the Gray Fox Project purchased five additional tracking collars.

These lightweight track collars are essential to decoding the mystery of the gray fox’s disappearance. They provide data on survivorship, home range size, genetics and habitat use. The collaring process also helps understand the health of gray foxes. Dr. Ruden has been able to examine collared gray foxes for parasites such as ticks and fleas and collect blood samples to better understand disease implications. In 2024, with donor support from IWF, the Gray Fox Project purchased five additional tracking collars.

Trapping and collaring has been a slow, steady process. The rare and elusive is hard to find, plus plenty of non-target species (raccoons, opossum, cats, etc.) that can interfere with trap sets.

During November of 2023, the Gray Fox Project tagged its first gray fox, caught by a private trapper. GF1 (short for gray fox 1) was a male found in Keokuk. Data from GF1’s collar taught the DNR that he had some preferred daytime den sites and a home range of roughly two-miles-by-two-miles.

More than a year later, in December of 2024, the Gray Fox Project tagged its second fox, a female called GF2. Later, the Project tagged GF3. With data from collars and trail cams, an understanding of the gray fox’s diet, travel, habitat and life is starting to form.

Gray fox genetics are another important aspect of the project. Genes can help scientists understand a range of important information about wildlife, like linkages with disease susceptibility, gene diversity and gene flow or intermixing between gray fox populations. This field of study, Wildlife Genomics, is relatively new. Dr. Dawn Reding, an expert in wildlife genetics at Luther College in Decorah, IA, is studying gray fox genetics in states across the Midwest including Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. Her work in Iowa has created a close partnership between her and the Gray Fox Project.

Though the reason for the gray fox’s population decline is still uncertain, competition with larger mammals, habitat loss and susceptibility to the fatal canine distemper virus are likely factors. Gray foxes are small enough that predation from larger mammals, like coyotes, can be a concern. They also compete with raccoons and other woodland mammals for food and shelter. Plus, gray fox population has declined while the populations of other animals, like raccoons, have increased. With all of these factors considered, gray foxes are at a significant disadvantage.

Gray foxes can also be particular about their woodland. Evelsizer says they prefer a “mosaic woodland” with varied ages and types of trees. Gray foxes tend to hunt and forage in younger growth, called “early successional forest,” but they rely on older growth for dens.

To add another level of complication, gray foxes have a greater susceptibility to distemper than competition like red foxes and coyotes. Distemper is a fatal virus that attacks respiratory and nervous systems. While many wild mammals can contract distemper, gray foxes seem to suffer from it at higher rates. All considered, gray foxes face a lot of challenges.

Luckily, the gray fox has the support of the DNR and IWF. While Evelsizer and Hoffman are collaring foxes and looking over the data, IWF helps raise funds and awareness for the Gray Fox Project.

“Iowa Wildlife Federation’s mission is to inspire Iowans to protect our wildlife and habitat,” said Betsy Penisten, Development and Communications Manager at IWF. “When we go to events, people come up to the table who don’t know anything about the gray fox. It’s a great way to inspire them and get them involved in wildlife conservation in Iowa.”

In 2025, an exciting breakthrough made the public fall even more in love with gray foxes. Using tracking collars and trail cams, the DNR were able to follow GF2 as she successfully raised a litter of six fox pups. Remarkable trail cam clips and photos shared by IWF and the DNR show GF2 with her litter, happy and healthy in Iowa’s forests.

GF2’s achievement is no small feat. Six is a large litter for gray foxes, and they don’t usually raise pups alone. After her mate tragically passed away in late February of 2025, GF2 had to find a way.

“It’s remarkable in [the DNR’s] opinion. For wild animals, there’s no room for complaining. They have to do what they have to do, and GF2 did. She raised all her pups successfully,” said Evelsizer.

 Iowans have been loving the fox pups too. Ryan Smith, Executive Director of Iowa Wildlife Federation, has said GF2’s success has raised a lot of public interest.

“When I go out and do presentations and I talk about the fox pups, the cute factor is huge. One of the great things about the Gray Fox Project is that people can relate to seeing young wildlife and wanting to protect it.”

Scientists trying to understand gray foxes and the organizations working to conserve their populations have more work ahead. For Evelsizer, it’s more than worth it.

“They’re a very neat wild, woodland furbearer,” said Evelsizer. “Rather than just watch them melt away and not know anything about them, we want to do anything we can to help them.”

Evelsizer sees the Gray Fox Project as a collaboration with the public.

“Iowans of all types - foresters, private landowners, and wildlife enthusiasts are all a part of this, which makes gray fox research exciting.”

Iowans are more than happy to help. Evelsizer says the public support has led to increased gray fox sightings, private trapping efforts and trail cam usage by private landowners. Public support and interest from our project partners and the public have been strong. He emphasized that education and outreach efforts have increased Iowans’ awareness and appreciation for this species. The Gray Fox Project has led to volunteer efforts, donations and, very importantly, the improvement and protection of gray fox habitat.

“We believe it is important to engage and connect the public to wildlife and their habitats,” Evelsizer says of the Gray Fox Project’s collaboration with the public.

To continue raising funds, Iowa Wildlife Federation has partnered with Raygun to make a gray fox shirt. A portion of proceeds from the gray fox shirt continue to support IWF’s work. You can get your own and make yourself a Gray Fox Project supporter here.

For more information on the Gray Fox Project and other ways to support, take a look at Iowa Wildlife Federation’s Gray Fox Project page or get in contact with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.