In Central California, a small but remarkable predator is making its presence felt—quietly, gracefully, and mostly at night. The gray fox, weighing around 10 pounds and moving without leaving a trace, is increasingly being spotted across the Central Valley this season. Friendly and fast, these foxes are not just charming—they are critical to the region’s ecological balance.

Story Highlights:

• Central California is seeing a notable rise in gray fox sightings this year.

• Gray foxes help control rodent populations and support native ecosystems.

• Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center reports a spike in rehabilitated foxes.

• Experts urge the public not to feed or interact with gray foxes to keep them wild.

The gray fox is distinguished by its silvery-gray coat with patches of yellow, brown, rust, or white along the throat and belly. According to the California Living Museum, it is the most common fox in California, favoring coastal and mountain forests at lower elevations.

This year, especially in the Central Valley, nocturnal gray foxes are appearing more frequently. Donna Burt, executive director of the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center in Hughson, Calif., described the situation.

“I didn’t have a chance to see how many foxes we got this year, but probably close to 30—more than twice what we normally get,” Burt said.

Hughson, a small town just nine miles southeast of downtown Modesto, is home to the nonprofit center that rescues and rehabilitates local wildlife brought in by the public. Serving an area from Merced to Stockton, the center has seen a notable surge in gray fox admissions this year.

“We have two fox cages, and they were full and spilled over into a third,” Burt explained.
“We get a few that are injured. Some we are able to save, some we are not—but if they come in with us, they’re in bad shape.”

Burt, who founded the center in 1984, said the spike in gray fox numbers this season is likely part of natural population cycles.

“A lot of wildlife populations have boom and bust cycles,” she said.
“When prey animals have good years, the predators reproduce successfully. Then the prey animals decrease, and the predators decrease. They go up and down as a normal cycle.”

The gray fox, an omnivore, plays a key role in controlling populations of mice, gophers, baby birds, and other small prey.

“Foxes, they love their mice. They love mice. And they like dog food and cat food,” Burt said.
“They climb fences and wander around the city quietly and secretly. They’re small and harmless. A 10-pound fox is a big one in its own way.”

Krysten Kellum, spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, confirmed the gray fox’s wide presence across the Central Valley.

“The gray fox is pretty much in all of the Central Valley cities from Fresno north,” she said.
“Foxes are intelligent, curious, and highly adaptable. Do not feed a fox. They are at risk of food conditioning or habituation to humans.”

Gray foxes share family ties with the San Joaquin kit fox, an endangered species, and the red fox, which is more commonly seen at higher elevations. Both gray and red foxes have been increasingly observed near Modesto this summer.

“These fox species may be seen in diverse habitats statewide,” Kellum added.
“Foxes provide many ecosystem benefits, helping control rodent and other small prey populations, such as squirrels and rabbits.”

Local volunteers have also noticed the uptick. Michael Hart, who patrols Tuolumne River Regional Park near downtown Modesto, said he’s spotting gray foxes more often.

“You’d look out here and see three, which is kind of unusual,” Hart said.

While gray foxes are undeniably cute and approachable, Burt and Kellum stressed that people should avoid interacting with them.

“They have kind of a skittish but mellow personality,” Burt said.
“They don’t attack things. They run away and hide. It’s tempting to want to interact with them, but it’s important to keep wildlife wild.”

The increasing visibility of gray foxes in Central California highlights both their natural population cycles and the ongoing work of rehabilitation centers. These small predators may weigh only 10 pounds, but their role in maintaining the balance of local ecosystems is immense.

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