The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has captured its second gray fox and outfitted it with a tracking collar as part of its study to figure out why the animal’s numbers have fallen. Wildlife biologist Vince Evelsizer says loss of the woodland habitat and competition for den sites with other wildlife may be one of the causes.
There have been fewer than 10 confirmed gray fox sightings in Iowa. Wildlife research technician, Dave Hoffman, says the GPS collars paired with trail cameras, will give them a lot of data for their goal.
The study began in 2023 and Hoffman says they’ve tried to share updates, photos and videos about this rare animal with the public.
The DNR is planning a trail camera survey in northeast Iowa in February and March. Evelsizer says there is a $400 reward provided by the Iowa Wildlife Federation for anyone who catches a gray fox that can be used for this study. He says the fox will be released on the site where it was caught.
