Rare melanistic gray fox photos from Michigan reveal a wildlife marvel

A nearly black fox photographed at dusk in Hastings has captured the attention of thousands on social media, but the animal’s unusual appearance highlights a bigger mystery for wildlife biologists: Gray foxes themselves are becoming increasingly uncommon in Michigan and parts of the Midwest.
The Michigan DNR recently shared photographs of the unusually colored gray fox – described by the agency as a melanistic gray fox – originally taken by a resident in June 2019. The images were submitted to the DNR through its Gray Fox Observation portal to help researchers better understand the distribution of a species that remains poorly understood in the state.