County Records and Noteworthy Detections of Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Southeast Kansas

Abstract

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a mesocarnivore with a broad geographic range in North America, yet its distribution and habitat associations in Kansas have been poorly documented. Using data from a statewide camera trap survey, we opportunistically observed gray foxes in five counties in southeast Kansas, including two new county records. Gray fox detection localities were characterized by deciduous forest stands with dense canopies, limited understory vegetation, and areas with leaf litter and bare soil. The landscape matrix surrounding these patches of forested vegetation was dominated by pasture, grassland, and cropland. While these features are similar to previous gray fox habitat assessments in neighboring states, additional research is needed on the gray fox in Kansas due to the paucity of contemporary data on the species.