From The Velvet Claw; A Natural History of the Carnivores by David Macdonald:
The oldest surviving dog is the grey fox, evolving some 6 - 9 million years ago. Territorial pairs move nimbly through deciduous woodland and fields with dainty steps, searching for insects, fruits, carrion and small mammals up to the size of rabbits. Being able to rotate it’s forelegs, it is a relatively good tree climber.
The Grey Fox (also spelled Gray Fox) is the only canid that ranges over much of North America and as far south as northern South America. I have seen them running through the ruins in Tikal in Guatemala, and at the edges of a dump in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Slightly smaller than a Red Fox, the Gray Fox is unrelated to its similar-sounding namesake, and is the only canid, other than the raccoon-like "raccoon dog " (Nyctereutes procyonoideshan), that easily and routinely climbs trees.
For more on the Gray Fox's life and habitat see this link on the main Terrierman web site.
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