NATIONAL FOX DAY

SEPTEMBER 17
of each year

Foxes – Gray and Red Fox are typically nocturnal hunters. Foxes, like cats, leave few clues, making them difficult to identify. Foxes will often carry the carcass to their den or bury uneaten body parts.

Recently articles have noted Red Foxes habitat is moving closer to humans and subdivision to avoid Coyotes, because the coyotes will kill off red foxes in the area, they are a competitor for food sources.

Recently articles showing decline in Gray Foxes even if they can climb trees to avoid coyotes. Multiple states have Gray Fox research going.

Typical Weight of Red Fox – 8 to 12 lbs.
Typical Weight of Gray Fox – 7 to 10 lbs.

Foxes’ main food source are rabbits, rats and mice, but will take on wild turkeys and even fawns. Their populations are very low in Missouri, they are a nest predator for wild turkeys as they will eat turkey eggs and can kill small poults but again population is very low in Missouri for foxes.

You can catch foxes in cage traps and foot hold traps.

Missouri Department of Conservation in 2023.

Fox Harvest and Population Trends - Furbearer Program Annual Report - 2023
Red fox harvest during the 2022-23 season increased 31.19% from 436 to 572 individuals harvested.
Average price for red fox pelts increased by 31% to $14.72 from 2021-2022 season’s $11.24.

Gray Fox Harvest increased significantly in 2022-2023 by 234.72% to 723 individuals compared with last year’s harvest of 216 (Figure 16). This trend was also observed in firearm harvest (Figure 17, 18).
Average price for gray fox pelts decreased by 19.1% from 2021-2022 season’s $19.90 to $16.09. Fox harvest is typically a by-product of bobcat or coyote trapper effort but it’s unclear why there is such a large difference in the red and gray fox harvest.

Population trends are derived from the Archer’s Index and Sign Station Survey. Bowhunter observations and sign station surveys offer a long-term perspective suggesting declines in both red and gray fox populations. Long-term fox population declines may be the result of interspecific competition with coyotes and bobcats. Another possible strain on gray fox populations is the increasing population of raccoons and the associated distemper virus, for which gray fox may be particularly vulnerable. Regional variability in fox abundance likely occurs, including around suburban areas where foxes may seek refuge from coyotes or respond to increased prey availability, but the overall long-term trend for both fox species indicates a decline in abundance.

Going back to 1990 the Highest Red Fox harvest was 1996-1997 Season at around 1,700.
Going back to 1990 the Highest Grey Fox harvest was 1996-1997 Season at over 2,000.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources closed the Illinois gray fox season for hunting and which have nothing to do with decline.

Possible diseases, such as canine distemper, have been found to affect and kill some gray foxes, but needs additional study to determine how much of an impact this may be having on populations. Canine distemper kills red foxes and coyotes as well. Thus, conclusive evidence that disease is the primary cause of the decline has not been found.

Another possibility is closely correlated with the increases in coyote numbers because coyotes kill both red and gray foxes, almost on sight. Such coyote behavior has been theorized as a reasoned response on the part of a coyote to eliminate one of its main competitors for prey.

Foxes Missouri Furbearer Report for 2025 has been published.
 
Red fox harvest during the 2024-2025 season to 653 individuals harvested.
Red fox harvest during the 2023-2024 season to 584 individuals harvested.


The average price for red fox pelts decreased by 18.2% to $15.22 from 2023-2024 season’s $18.61.

 
Gray Fox Harvest decreased in 2024-2025 season 354 individuals.

Gray Fox Harvest decreased in 2023-2024 season 708 individuals.
 
The average price for gray fox pelts increased by 26.8% from 2023-2024 season’s $15.40 to $19.52.
 
Long-term perspective suggesting declines in both red and gray fox populations. Long-term fox population declines may be the result of interspecific competition with coyotes and bobcats.
 
Another possible strain on gray fox populations is the increasing population of raccoons and the associated distemper virus, for which gray fox may be particularly vulnerable.
 
Regional variability in fox abundance likely occurs, including around suburban areas where foxes may seek refuge from coyotes or respond to increased prey availability, but the overall long-term trend for both fox species indicates a decline in abundance.