Swift Fox

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.