Red Foxes and Grey Foxes

What a joy it is to see the elusive fox! Nighttime rides through Gulf Islands National Seashore - Davis Bayou area (Ocean Springs, MS) yielded two this weekend. We personally spotted a red fox working his way through the picnic area, nose to the ground in search of leftovers. He gave us a quick glance when he spotted the car lights and picked up his step a bit. He wasn't deterred in the search, though. Zigzagging around the tables, he worked his way across towards the wooded area near the bayou. Such a beautiful animal he was with his silky red coat and dark tail with a prominent white tip. What a handsome fellow!

My parents separately spotted a grey fox. As none of us had ever spotted a grey fox there before, we actually checked for verification that they reside there before making the claim of the spotting. Indeed, they do. This gives us one more nocturnal creature to look for on our nighttime quest!

If you are interested in the animals you may be able to see upon visiting Gulf Islands National Seashore, here is a link to a list: http://www.nps.gov/guis/naturescience/upload/Animal%20Checklist.pdf . Although the list is labeled Florida, Gulf Islands encompasses Mississippi as well.