In the fall, the young disperse from the family unit and will usually breed the first spring after they are born. In the middle 1700s, Connecticut was home to both native gray and red foxes. The red fox was an inhabitant of mixed forest and open areas while the gray fox inhabited more dense woodlands. The hybrid fox is now considered to be the only red fox type in Connecticut. With the abandonment of farmland during the 1800s and subsequent regrowth of woodlands, the gray fox population has increased during the past 100 years.
Gray foxes tend to be active from the late evening hours until dawn.
They will readily climb trees, jumping from branch to branch while hunting or for protection. In Connecticut, the normal home range for a fox is about two to four square miles, but it may vary depending on the abundance of food. The gray fox has a voice similar to the red fox, but barks or yaps less often than the red fox and its voice is louder. Hunting and trapping can regulate fox populations while providing recreational opportunities for hunters and trappers. In addition to their value as a furbearer, foxes are important predators of prolific prey species like mice and rabbits.