Swift Fox
Vulpes Velox
Swift foxes have dark grayish tan coloration extending to a yellow-tan color across their sides and legs. The throat, chest and belly are pale yellow to white. They have black-tipped tails, black patches on their muzzles and noticeably large ears.
Height 12 inches
Length 31 inches with tail
Weight 5-7 lbs
Top speed 25 mph
Lifespan 3-4 years
Diet
Rabbits, prairie dogs, ground squirrels, mice, birds, reptiles, amphibians, berries and seeds
Population
Population numbers in the wild are unknown, but they are found in less than 40% of their historic range.
Range
The swift fox is native to the Great Plains region of North America. Historically, their range included prairies in central North America, extending north to central Alberta, Canada, and south to central Texas, east-west from western Iowa to Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Today the swift fox can be found in fragmented, smaller populations in portions of Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
Behavior
They received the name "swift” fox because of their speediness. Swift foxes are nocturnal, vocal and non-territorial. They spend more time underground in their burrows than any other canid. Although they are social animals, they keep one mate throughout their lifetime.
Reproduction
Mating Season December to February
Gestation 51
days
Litter Size 4-5 kits
The kits disperse in September and October.
Threats
One of the main threats to the swift fox is habitat loss as a result of conversion of grasslands for agriculture. In the past, they were impacted by trapping and incidental poisoning intended for wolves and coyotes. As part of federal eradication campaigns, poisoning also reduced swift fox food sources, such as prairie dogs and ground squirrels.
Legal Status/Protection
In the United States, the swift fox was removed from "candidate" status under the *Endangered Species Act (ESA). In Canada, they are considered to be "endangered" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
* The Endangered Species Act requires the US federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our children and grandchildren.
**The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies, varieties or other designatable units that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation.
How You Can Help
- Help Swift Foxes and other wildlife by adopting an animal at our Wildlife Adoption Center.
- Take Action for Wildlife at our Wildlife Action Center.
For additional information
Swift Success:
Rare Foxes Return to Montana, Defenders Magazine Spring 2006
Visit Defenders' Imperiled Species: Swift Fox pages for more information about what Defenders is doing to help.
