The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-02-12
By Rod AmundsOn in January
"Wildlife in North Carolina"

SOAAASO~A~ ~ - 49, - -
"crazy-like fox" consider
yourself complimented. Remem-
Der the tales of the THE Fox
and the Grapes" "The Fox and
the Wolf" and other immortal
parallels by Aesop? These testify
to the intelligence and cunning
of the fox.
No other North Carolina ami
NAL is subject to more pro and
con discussion than the fox. Fox
hunters love the species. Quail
and rabbit hunters are about for
wholesale and complete exter-
mination of foxes. Much of the
invective directed against foxes
is completely groundless. The fox
cannot be compared with a saint,
and at the same time should not
be condemned as a criminal. His
living habits place him some
where between the two extremes,
although he will often shift from
one extreme to the other.
North Carolina is blessed - or
cursed-with two species of fox
es, depending on the individual
attitude toward the breed. Most
abundant is the gray fox, Uroc-
yon cineroargenteus, wv h C h I,
translated loosely from Greek,
means "ashy-silver dog tairO.
Less common is the red fox,
Wipes fulva, Latin for yellow
foxy. Because of many similari-
ties between the two animals,
they will be discussed together
and important differences pointed
out.
History
Like many other animals, foxes
plan an important part in the
literature of the world. Aesop
composed his famous fables many
years before the birth of Christ.
Many legends have sprung up re-
garding the fox, some so persist
emily that it is difficult to separ-
ate them from actual fact. Per-
haps the most Interesting one is
also the greateH tribute to the
foxes cunning. 1t has to do with
the unique manner of getting rid
of f1eas. The fox takes a tuft of
wool in his mouth and wades
slowly out into a pond or stream,
giving his parasitic dodgers time
to make their way up toward the
back and head to keep dry. AS
the fox slowly submerges, the
f1eas are forced toward the tip of
the nose, and finally crawl into
the tuft of wool. When the fox is
completely immersed the fieas
are left stranded in the wool and
the fox is rid of the infestation.
The Encyclopedia Brita mi C a
gives CONSIDERABLY credence to
this legend.
Civilization, to a limited de-
gree, has benefited the fox. Both
the red and the gray prefer an
open timber habitat, and the
clearing of land for agriculture
has created a suitable environ
ment in this state. The value of
fox furs was recognized by early
settlers, and huge q u n tit e S
were obtained from the Indians
and shipped to Europe. The fur
of the red fox is far superior to
that of the gray in color and
texture. Due to the levying of
luxury taxes on fur trimmed
garments, the demand for fox
furs has been very low in recent
years.
General Description
Other than to point out GER
tain differences between red and
gray foxes, description of the
species is not necessary. The
gray is the smaller of the two
animals, ranging from seven to
eleven pounds; and the red fox
ranges from eight to fourteen
pounds. Although the smaller of
the two, the gray fox has strong
er legs, proportionately. Both
have Enthusiastically blu S by
tails, erect, pointed ears, and
rather long, pointed muzzleS.
There are so many color varia-
tons among the individuals that
often an examination of the skull
is necessary for accurate identi-
fication. Red foxes may produce
color variants in the same litter,
with normal, silver, and cross
variations in the same brood. The
furs of silver foxes, raised in
captivity and once highly priced
by fashionable women, are moth
ing more than color variation
of the red fox. The same is true
of black and cross foxes. The
brick-red of the underparts of
gray foxes sometimes extends up
over the back, giving an appear
ance very similar to the red
species.
Breeding Habits
Both red and gray foxes are
den animals, and the dens may be
anything from hollow trees to
crevices in rocks to burrows in