Mammal · GBIF taxon 5219290
Swift Fox
Vulpes veloxSwift foxes are house-cat-sized canids adapted to the open horizons of North America's shortgrass prairies. They spend significantly more time underground than other foxes, relying on complex burrow networks year-round for shelter, rearing pups, and escaping predators. Their nocturnal hunts focus on small rodents, birds, and insects, sprint-chasing prey across flat terrain at remarkable speeds.
NocturnalGrasslandMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog
- Grasshopper
- Mountain Cottontail
Predators
- Coyote
- Golden Eagle
- American Badger
ThreatsHabitat conversion, vehicle collisions, accidental poisoning
HabitatsShortgrass and mixed-grass prairies
Life span3–6 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCanidae
- SpeciesVulpes velox
Native
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- May bite or scratch if cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its small cat-like size, orange-buff coat, black-tipped tail, and dark snout patches.
- Support conservation
- Keep at least 100 meters away from active den sites and refrain from sharing exact nest locations.
Responsible observation
- Observe at Dusk: Look for activity around shortgrass prairie areas during twilight hours.
- Maintain Distance: Use binoculars or optics to watch without disturbing active den sites.
- Watch Prairie Roads: Drive slowly along rural grassland roads at night where foxes forage along shoulders.
Predator Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Prey (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Kit Fox Pup near Delta, Utah." by BLMUtah is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.