Swift Fox
Adobe Stock
Smallest member of the canine family. 2 ½ feet from snout to tip of tail. Yellowish tan coat with some gray along the back. Belly, throat, and chest are buff to white. Distinctly large ears for body size. Long bushy tail with a black tip.
Status in North Dakota
Resident species, potentially breeding population.
Note: While considered a "game" species in North Dakota, this species currently has a year-round closed hunting season.
Range Map
Swift Fox possible (light gray) and historic (hatched) range.
Reason for SWAP Designation
Loss of native prairie thought to be the cause of initial population decline.
The species may have re-established in the state as a result of re-introductions in neighboring states.
Threats
Loss of suitable native short and mixed-grass prairie due to conversion to agricultural and development provide the largest threat to re-establishing populations.
Connectivity to breeding populations in South Dakota and Montana is a threat to natural repopulation of suitable habitat in North Dakota.
High red fox and coyote populations threaten Swift Fox populations due to predation.
Research and Monitoring
- Evaluation of the need for range wide surveys is made on a 5-year basis due to the low number of individuals present in the state.
- Reports to Online Furbearer Observation Reporting system are also used to track Swift Fox.
Management Recommendations
- Promote habitat conservation and habitat management in suitable Swift Fox habitat.
- Coordinate with federal and state agencies to evaluate current levels of protection of habitat.
- Identify habitat corridors and surrounding areas between habitat blocks for protection.
- Monitor existing and identify new threats to Swift Fox population expansion.
- Promote scientific Swift Fox management and a public education program.
Primary Geological Regions
Habitat Associations
Habitat Use
Found statewide at one time with the exception of the eastern tallgrass prairies.
A majority of Swift Foxes were found in the shortgrass prairies of southwestern North Dakota.
Swift Foxes prefer large tracts of native prairie, usually grazed, but will select dens sites near agricultural fields and human development.
Shortgrass prairie in extreme western and southwestern North Dakota offers the most suitable habitat for Swift Fox populations in North Dakota.
This region is also the closest in proximity to known breeding populations in South Dakota and Montana.
Swift fox are opportunistic foragers, and consume a variety of mammals, birds, arthropods, plants, and carrion.