MEET THE ANIMALS
Swift Fox
- The Red River Zoo is the home of two Swift Fox.
- Zoo guests can check out their exhibit located next to the North American River Otter exhibit.
- Their den was originally built in 2011, but was expanded in 2019.
What do I look like?
I am a small light orange-tan fox around the size of a domestic cat.
What do I eat?
Like most foxes, I’m an omnivore. Rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, birds, insects, and lizards are staples of my diet in the wild. My diet is rounded out by grasses and fruits. During the summer, I eat large amounts of insects, including beetles and grasshoppers.
Where do I live?
I live in short-grass prairies and western grassland. I form my den in sandy soil on open prairies, in plowed fields, or along fences. I am native to the Great Plains region of North America.
How am I adapted for winter?
When it gets really cold, I stay in my warm den. I decrease my activity but I do not hibernate, even when it is really cold. My warm fur coat also helps me stay warm.
Did You Know?
Swift Foxes tend to live in pairs.
A Swift Fox tends to live for about three to six years in the wild, whereas in captivity they are known to live for about 14 years.
The conservation status of the Swift Fox is Least Concern. In Canada, the Swift Fox population were hunted to extinction but have been reintroduced thanks to conservation efforts.
The Swift Fox is one of the fastest animals in the region of North America. It can run up to a speed of 37 mph (60 kph).
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Urocyon