Species · GBIF taxon 5219290
Swift Fox
Vulpes veloxAlso known as Prairie Fox
Swift foxes are pint-sized denizens of the shortgrass prairie, weighing barely more than a house cat and capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour to escape predators. These nocturnal canids spend more time underground than any other North American fox, utilizing extensive burrow systems for protection, pup-rearing, and temperature regulation. Their high-pitched yips and barks punctuate the prairie nights, especially during the winter breeding season when pairs form close bonds.
NocturnalGrasslandFast-running
Licensed reference(c) Spencer Hurt, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Deer Mouse
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit
- Grasshopper
Predators
- Coyote
- Golden Eagle
- American Badger
ThreatsHabitat loss from agriculture, vehicle collisions, accidental poisoning, and predation by coyotes.
HabitatsShortgrass and mixed-grass prairies, arid grasslands, and shrub-steppe.
Life span3 to 6 years in the wild, up to 12 years in captivity.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCanidae
- SpeciesVulpes velox
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild canids may bite if cornered or handled; maintain a respectful distance at all times.
- What to notice
- Look for a cat-sized, pale yellowish-tan fox with a black-tipped tail and dark patches on its muzzle.
- Support conservation
- Never approach active dens, and report sightings to local wildlife conservation authorities to aid monitoring.
Responsible observation
- Spotting at Dusk: Scan open grasslands with binoculars during twilight hours when they emerge from dens.
- Respect Den Sites: Keep a wide distance from active burrows to avoid stressing rearing mothers.
- Drive Cautiously: Watch the roadsides carefully at night in prairie regions to prevent vehicle strikes.
Predator and Competitor Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator and Competitor Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 · 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
Close Relative "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
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