A small fox of open prairie — about the size of a house cat — that nearly vanished from US grasslands by 1930. Successful reintroductions and habitat work have rebuilt populations, but they remain rare.

Native status: Native to shortgrass prairies; recovering

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 60–80 cm; tail 22–35 cm
Weight2.5–3.5 kg
LifespanWild 3–4 years
OrderCarnivora
FamilyCanidae

§ Encyclopedia

The swift fox is a small light orange-tan fox around the size of a domestic cat found in the western Great Plains grasslands of North America, such as Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It also lives in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada, where it was previously extirpated. It is closely related to the kit fox and some mammalogists classify them as conspecific. However, molecular systematics imply that the two species are distinct. Interbreeding between the two species does occur where their ranges overlap, but this hybridization is quite restricted in scope.

Source: Wikipedia — Swift fox Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small slender fox with tawny-orange coat; black-tipped tail; large ears.

Similar species. Kit Fox (similar; different range edge). Red Fox (much larger).

Voice. Yips; barks.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Small mammals (kangaroo rats, mice), insects.

Behavior. Endemic to North American shortgrass prairies. Among the fastest US foxes (37 mph). Once nearly extirpated; now recovering through reintroduction.

§ Range

Shortgrass prairies of central US and into southern Canada

§ Habitat

Shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie with prairie dog colonies

§ Threats

Conversion of grassland to row crops, secondary rodenticide poisoning, vehicle strikes.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the swift fox is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Donate to swift fox recovery. Skip prairie dog poisoning.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Swift Fox Conservation Team
  • IUCN Red List 2016