{
  "id": 12202712,
  "title": "Michigan confirms unusual fox photo is “an incredibly rare sight” – and could be the only one like it in the region",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/michigan-confirms-unusual-fox-photo-is-an-incredibly-rare-sight-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-05T15:35:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/nature-and-wildlife-photography/michigan-confirms-unusual-fox-photo-is-an-incredibly-rare-sight-and-could-be-the-only-one-like-it-in-the-region"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A viral photo of an unusual fox in Michigan has been identified by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as an incredibly rare melanistic gray fox. The government organization confirmed the photo is the only known example of its kind in the Midwest. Melanism is a genetic condition that causes an animal to have a much darker coat than usual. Michigan is home to two species of foxes - the common red fox and the less frequent gray fox. The DNR explained that the photo shows a melanistic gray fox. In contrast, melanistic red foxes, known as silver foxes, are rarer but more often seen. A distinguishing feature is the tail - red foxes have a white tip while gray foxes have a black one. Gray foxes are also capable of climbing trees, something red foxes cannot do due to their claw structure. Social media users noticed the fox in the photo appears to have a purple hue, which is likely a result of a photography error rather than a genetic mutation. The white balance of the photo, which adjusts colors based on the light source, may have skewed the image. Additionally, the white clover flowers in the background also exhibit a purple tone, reinforcing the notion that the color is due to camera settings rather than manipulation. The DNR is currently seeking reports of fox sightings, both recent and past, and is encouraging the public to share photos through an online reporting tool as part of their research to better understand the distribution of red and gray foxes in Michigan.",
  "summary": "The Michigan DNR recently confirmed that a photo of an unusually colored fox is a rare melanistic gray fox",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}