I shared this photo back in 2021 with the news that Michigan’s top baby names were Oliver & Charlotte. Although Charlotte remains atop the Social Security Administration Baby Name List five years later (followed by Amelia, Sophia, Eleanor & Evelyn), Oliver has been passed on the 2025 most popular baby name list by Theodore & Noah with Henry & James rounding out the top 5. Andrew is down at 62 – 20+ spots below when I was born. How is your name faring these days?
While pretty much every Michigander is familiar with the iconic red fox, Michigan is also home to the smaller & rarely seen gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). They’re so elusive in fact that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is hoping you can help them pinpoint where they live:
The DNR recently partnered with Northern Michigan University, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians to conduct a research project on both red and gray foxes, with some results suggesting gray foxes may be much rarer in Michigan than previously believed.
To better understand their distribution across the state, wildlife researchers are launching a statewide effort to collect gray fox observations from the public. If you’ve seen a gray fox, whether recently or years ago, the DNR wants to hear from you. Photographs are especially valuable because they help researchers confirm sightings and gain more clarity on where gray foxes are living in Michigan today.
“Gray foxes are one of Michigan’s least understood mammals,” said Cody Norton, DNR furbearer specialist. “By sharing sightings and photographs, residents can help us get a better sense of where these animals occur and provide information that will shape future research and conservation efforts.”
Robert shared that this particular Gray fox stopped by his backyard back in July of 2013 writing:
8-22-13. This photo was taken on July 1, 2013. The range of the Gray Fox is not supposed to include my home area (i.e., the extreme northwest area of Michigan’s lower peninsula). I figured this guy (gal) was a transient. Today, 8-22-13, as my wife and I sat on our back porch, we saw four (4) Gray Foxes trot across our backyard, spaced about 40 feet apart, one after the other. It caught us quite by surprise and we thought, maybe, it was a mom and her three little ones (though they were nearly the same size and in our surprise we were unable to make an accurate size comparison). We are now convinced that our area should be considered part of the Gray Fox range.
Read Robert’s excellent writeup on gray foxes below and see more pics in his My Neighborhood gallery on Flickr.
Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) by Robert F Carter
This guy stopped to search for food in my backyard for several minutes. Gray foxes remain solitary for most of the year. They are primarily a nocturnal animal, but have occasionally been spotted during the daytime as in this photo. Though usually not very large, they can approach 20 pounds in weight.
Gray foxes prefer dens close to a water supply. The den may be located under or between large rocks, in an underground burrow, or even in hollow tree trunks or limbs (they can climb due to their retractable claws). They are the only member of the Canidae that can climb trees. Some of the physical traits unique to the gray fox (e.g., short legs and retractable claws) have lead researchers to suggest that they are one of the more primitive members of the Canidae family. They communicate by barking and growling.
The primary predators of the Gray Fox are bobcats, coyotes, golden eagles, and great-horned owls.
Gray Foxes have oval-shaped pupils and the area around the eyes has a thin black stripe from the outside corner of the eye to the side of the head. Additionally, a thick black stripe runs from the inside corner of the eye, down the muzzle to the mouth. Gray Foxes are sometimes misidentified as Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), however Red Foxes have slit-shaped eyes, larger feet, longer legs, and a leaner body.
“All my life through, the new sights of nature make me rejoice like a child.” — Marie Curie
Julie shares “The other morning I was pushing the trash cart out to the road around 6:30am and this beautiful red fox was running around the neighbors yard. I went back and sat on my steps and said to it come sit with me and by golly it did. I have the stone fox in the back and we enjoyed each other’s company for a bit. I so love foxes and have filmed them so much in past years. Made my whole day.“
My first ever memory of the wild world was being on a solo hike that was honestly way too long for a 6-year-old. I came over the top of a rise on an old logging road and face to face with a fox! We looked at each other for about 30 seconds and then both ran like hell in opposite directions! 😅
“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful Michigan mommas! You have raised or are raising our future and we are so blessed to have you in our lives & hearts!
Tahquamenon Falls State Park shared yesterday that there has been a thief taking flip flops and crocs from campers at their Rivermouth Campground:
It was discovered today that there are multiple thieves, and they have four legs and are adorable. All of the shoes shown were found outside a fox den. If you look closely, you can see teeth marks in the flip flops and straps have been chewed off the light pink crocs. Heads up if you are camping this summer at the Rivermouth, you’ll want to keep your shoes inside your camper 🦊
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” -Albert Einstein
Julie shared this photo back in April of 2021, but I wanted to make sure everybody saw these sweet little fox babies. She has more great photos of these foxes & others having fun on Flickr.
Have a great weekend everyone, and if you have an extra dollar or three & enjoy Michigan in Pictures, consider clicking the Patreon button below to help me reach my current goal, an asiago bacon croissant at Cannelle Detroit! 😋
Another year, another pair of fox kits for the Michigan in Pictures family! Last year I christened a pair Oliver & Charlotte based on Michigan’s most popular baby names. Both Oliver & Charlotte have been dethroned, so please put your hands together for Noah & Amelia (#2 & #4 in the US respectively).
TP took this photo on Sunday. See more on his Flickr!
The Social Security Administration has shared the 100 most popular baby names for each state in 2020 to their online list. For Michigan in 2020, the most popular male name was Oliver & with Charlotte as our most popular female name. Amelia, Olivia, Eva & Emma completed the top five girl’s names while Noah, Liam, Henry & Elijah rounded out the top boy names.
The lists go back to 1960 when David & Mary led the way.
While John didn’t report the actual names of these two when he shared the photo back in 2009, the little guy on the left is definitely an Oliver! See more in John’s Michigan gallery on Flickr.
