Swift fox reintroductions on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana, USA

Published source details Ausband D.E. & Foresman K.R. (2007) Swift fox reintroductions on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana, USA. Biological Conservation, 136, 423-430.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Release captive-bred individuals to re-establish or boost populations in native range Action Link

Release captive-bred individuals to re-establish or boost populations in native range

A study in 1998–2005 at a prairie grassland site in Montana, USA (Ausband & Foresman 2007) found that following releases of captive-reared swift foxes Vulpes velox, a population became established and grew. One year after releases finished, there were 62 animals, increasing to 93 animals two years later. From 50 to 100% of mature female swift foxes reproduced each year, producing 4–5 offspring. Five to seven years after reintroductions, adult swift fox annual survival was 60–73%, and that of young swift foxes was 69–77%. Of the 33 animals that died during the study, 26 were killed by coyotes Canis latrans or birds of prey. In 1998–2002, one-hundred and twenty-three captive-reared swift foxes were released in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. In 2003–2005, twenty-three adult and 35 juvenile foxes were trapped and radio-collared. They were then tracked weekly, until 2005.

(Summarised by: Alexandra Sutton )