Naturalists Society

Small and Fast: The Swift Fox

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Photo: wildlifepreservation.ca

As the name suggests, the swift fox (Vulpes velox) is a speedy little fox species once found in the prairies and, foothills of the southern Alberta rockies. The swift fox is the smallest wild dog in North America and among the smallest in the world — at two to three kilograms, it’s about as heavy as an adult Chihuahua, which allows it to reach top speeds of up to 60 km/hr. Other defining traits include vertical cat-like eyes, black facial spots on the sides of their muzzles, and long, black-tipped bushy tails. Birds of Prey Centre

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The swift fox was distributed in large populations across the Canadian Prairies, but declined due to trapping and predator control programs and an increase in agrarian development in the late 1800s. This species was classified in Canada as extirpated (locally extinct) in 1978. (ASFPR 2006-2011; COSEWIC) and got reintroduced between 1983 and 1997. Swift foxes are a unique part of the prairie ecosystem, as they are omnivorous and will feed on almost anything, including pest species such as mice or insects.

Photo: natureconservancy.ca

For more information:

https://www.aiwc.ca/blog /alberta-wildliferecoveries-swift-fox/ https://www.canadiangeo graphic.ca/article/swiftfoxes-return-alberta https://wildlifepreservati on.ca/swift-fox/ https://www.canadiangeo graphic.ca/article/whyswift-fox-one-canadasbest-wildlife-recoverystories https://www.treehugger. com/swift-foxes-returncanada-4861974 https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/ pn-np/sk/grasslands/ nature/faune-wildlife/ renard_veloce-swift_fox

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