# swift fox (*Vulpes velox*) The swift fox is a small, quick animal that loves to run and play in the grasslands. They have beautiful orange and gray fur and are known for their playful nature. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Plains Fox ![swift fox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Swift_Fox.jpg&width=800) Photo: en:User:Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Swift_Fox.jpg) ## Appearance The swift fox is a small, lean fox with yellowish-tan fur, a pale underside, and large, prominent ears. It has distinctive dark patches on either side of its muzzle and a bushy tail with a black tip, helping it blend into its grassland home. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Vulpes ## Interesting facts - Swift foxes are one of North America's smallest wild canids! - Swift foxes often mate for life, which is rare among many fox species! - Their dark eye patches might help reduce sun glare, like a baseball player's eye black. - They sometimes use old prairie dog or badger burrows instead of digging their own. ## Special abilities - **Prairie Dash:** The swift fox can run up to 60 km/h because of its long legs, helping it chase small prey and escape predators. - **Super Hearing:** Swift foxes have large ears that help them pinpoint faint sounds of prey underground or hidden in tall grass. - **Burrow Master:** This fox can dig complex dens using its strong claws, providing a safe home for pups and an escape from danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 37-53 cm - **Weight:** 1.8-3 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-6 - **Gestation:** 51-57 days ## Diet & Feeding These foxes eat mostly small mammals and insects, with some plants too. - **Primary Foods:** Mice, Voles, Prairie dogs, Rabbits, Grasshoppers, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes are major predators of swift foxes. - **Hunts:** [Black-tailed jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — Swift foxes often hunt juvenile jackrabbits. - **Hunts:** Black-tailed prairie dog (*Cynomys ludovicianus*) — Swift foxes hunt prairie dogs and use their burrows. - **Eaten by:** [Golden eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/golden-eagle) (*Aquila chrysaetos*) — Golden eagles prey on swift foxes from above. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a swift fox in the wild, enjoy watching it from a distance and do not approach. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify swift fox? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is swift fox? 37-53 cm ### How much does swift fox weigh? 1.8-3 kg ### How long does swift fox live? 3-6 years ### How fast can swift fox move? 60 km/h ### What does swift fox eat? These foxes eat mostly small mammals and insects, with some plants too. ### Where is swift fox usually found? Grasslands ### How does swift fox hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-wolf-and-wildlife-center) — Colorado, US · Zoo ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Swift Fox: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swift-fox)