The swift fox (Vulpes velox) is nearly the size of a domestic cat. It is found in North America and Canada. It has an orange-tan coat. The fox is a close relative of kit fox.
Swift foxes have unusually large ears. Adult foxes reach a shoulder height of 30 cm with a length averaging 79 cm. Swift fox weighs up to 7 pounds. Females are almost the size of males.
They live in Great Plains, Alberta, Canada, Colorado, Nebraska, Montana, south to Texas, Wyoming, and Kansas.
Swift fox makes habitat in deserts, open prairies, and short-grass prairies.
Like most other foxes, s
wift foxes are also omnivores. They will consume fruits, grasses, carrion, insects, and small mammals. The swift fox diet includes rabbits, lizards, ground squirrels, grasshoppers, beetles, and mice.
Swift foxes are really swift on the ground. They can run at a speed of 30 – 40 miles per hour.
They are thought to live in underground dens that measure 2 to 4 meters in length.
Swift foxes become active at night or in the early hours of dusk.
The breeding season ranges from December to March. The female produces 4 – 5 kits after a gestation period of 51 days.
The lifespan of a swift fox is about 3 to 6 years in the wild. The captive specimen can live up to 14 years.
Swift foxes have quite a few predators in the wild. Prominent among these are coyotes, bobcat, golden eagles, and badger.
