Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:04:11.906Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The reintroduction of the swift fox Vulpes velox to South Central Saskatchewan, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Clio Smeeton  and
Ken Weagle
Ken Weagle
Affiliation:
Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, PO Box 2130, Yellowknife, NT, Canada X1A 2P6
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Canadian Swift Fox Reintroduction Programme lasted from 1972 to 1997. From 1983 to 1997, a total of 841 captive-raised swift foxes and 91 translocated swift foxes were released in the Canadian Prairies. In South Central Saskatchewan, 406 captiveraised animals and 14 translocated animals were released from 1990 to 1997. This area was used to develop new release methods (in particular, portable protective shelters (PPS)) and saw the co-operation of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) (Cochrane Ecological Institute (CEI)) with two levels of government (Heritage Canada (Grasslands National Park) and the Government of Saskatchewan). A 1996–97 survey of swift foxes in South Central Saskatchewan estimated the population to be 87 animals. No attempt has been made to establish if this population level is sustainable.

Keywords

CanadaSaskatchewanswift foxVulpes veloxreintroduction
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , July 2000 , pp. 171 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 2000

References

Brechtel, S.H., Carbyn, L.N., Hjertaas, D. & Mamo, C. (1993) Canadian swift fox reintroduction feasibility study: 1989 to 1992—report and recommendations of the National Recovery Team. Unpublished Report. Alberta Environmental Protection, Edmonton.Google Scholar
Brechtel, S.H., Carbyn, L.N., Erickson, G., Hjertaas, D., Mamo, C. & McDougall, P. (1994) National Recovery Plan for the swift fox. Report No. 15, 03 17, 1994. Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife Committee, Ottawa.Google Scholar
Bremner, S. (1997) Diet and hunting behaviour of captive-bred swift fox (Vulpes velox/Vulpes velox hebes) intended for release. MSc thesis, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Carbyn, L. (1995) Swift foxes on the North American Plains. Canid Action News, 3, 41–45.Google Scholar
Carlington, B.G. (1980) Reintroduction of the swift fox (Vulpes velox) to the Canadian Prairie. Master's degree project, University of Calgary.Google Scholar
CEI (1994) Survey of swift fox activity and possible release sites in Grasslands National Park (15 August to 6 September 1994). Unpublished report.Google Scholar
CEI (1995) Data summary and scent post survey for swift fox in the West Block, Grasslands National Park 1995. Unpublished report. Prepared for Grasslands National Park by Cochrane Ecological Institute, 12 1995.Google Scholar
COSEWIC (1978) COSEWIC status reports and evaluations. Volume 1. Official Classification of the Swift Fox as Extirpated in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ottawa.Google Scholar
COSEWIC (1998) Canadian species at risk, April, 1998. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa.Google Scholar
Cotterill, S.E. (1997) Population census of swift fox (Vulpes velox) in Canada: Winter 1996—1997. Unpublished report. For the Swift Fox Recovery Team, Status and Surveys Branch, Alberta Environment Protection, Edmonton.Google Scholar
Flaherty, M. & Plaake, R. (1986) Response of swift fox (Vulpes velox) to water stress. The journal of Colorado—Wyoming Academy of Science, 18, 51.Google Scholar
Hall, E.R. (1981) The Mammals of North America, vol. 2. John Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
Harris, W.C. & McAdam, S. (1994) Assessment of swift fox populations in Saskatchewan—Winter/Spring 1994. Unpublished report. Prepared for Swift Fox Conservation Society, Calgary, and Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Regina, 04 1994.Google Scholar
Hjertaas, D. (1994) Reintroduction of the swift fox on the Wood Mountain Plateau. Unpublished report. Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Regina.Google Scholar
ISIS, (1989) User Manual for Sparks the Single Population Analysis and Record Keeping System. International Species Information System, Apple Valley, Minnesota.Google Scholar
Longmuir, R. (1994) Live trapping swift fox (Vulpes velox) in the Wood Mountain Area March 1–7, 1994. Unpublished report. Wildlife Population Management Information Base 94-WP-. Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Regina.Google Scholar
McAdam, S. (1995) The Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan swift fox (Vulpes velox) population monitoring project, Summer 1995. Unpublished report. Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety, Saskatchewan.Google Scholar
Merriam, C.H. (1902) Three new foxes of the kit and desert fox group. Proceeding of the Biological Society of Washington, 15, 73–74.Google Scholar
Michie, J. (1994a) Monitoring of swift fox in Grasslands National Park, November 1994. Unpublished report. Prepared for Cochrane Ecological Institute.Google Scholar
Michie, J. (1994b) Swift fox update in Grasslands National Park, West Block. July 18–26, 1994. Unpublished report. Prepared for Cochrane Ecological Institute.Google Scholar
Michie, J. (1994c) Swift fox monitoring in Masefield and Val Marie PFRA Community Pastures and their suitability as future release sites. Unpublished report. Prepared for Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management.Google Scholar
Moehrenschlager, A. (1994) Population monitoring of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) by means of scent posting and spotlighting in Wood Mountain Saskatchewan. Unpublished report to Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, Regina and the Swift Fox Conservation Society, Calgary.Google Scholar
Pruss, S.D. (1994) An observational natal den study of wild swift fox (Vulpes velox) on the Canadian Prairie. Master's degree project, University of Calgary.Google Scholar
Reynolds, J. (1983) A plan for the reintroduction of the swift fox to the Canadian Prairies. Master's degree project, University of Calgary.Google Scholar
Schroeder, C. (1987) Swift fox reproductive biology in captivity. Manuscript report, University of Calgary.Google Scholar
Smeeton, C. (1994) Reintroducing the swift fox. Canid Action News, 2, 13–16.Google Scholar
Stephens, P. (1995) Monitoring of swift fox by breeding call playback and other techniques in Grasslands National Park Saskatchewan 23.4.95–7.4.95. Unpublished report. Prepared for Cochrane Ecological Institute, 05 1995.Google Scholar
Stromberg, M.R. & Boyce, M.S. (1986) Systematic and conservation of the swift fox, Vulpes velox, in North America. Biological Conservation, 35, 97–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teeling, E.C. (1996) Born to be free: captive breeding as a conservation technique. Dissertation in part fulfilment of the degree of SMC, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Tudge, C. (1991) Last Animals at the Zoo: How Mass Extinctions can be Stopped. Island Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Uresk, D.W. & Sharps, J.C. (1986) Denning habitat and diet of the swift fox in western South Dakota. The Great Basin Naturalist, 46, 249–253.Google Scholar
Wayne, R. (1998) A look at swift fox/kit fox taxonomy within the canid complex. First North American Swift Fox Symposium, Ecology and Conservation of the Swift Fox in a Changing World, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 02 18–19 1998.Google Scholar
Weagle, K. & Smeeton, C. (1995) Behavioural aspects of the swift fox (Vulpes velox) reintroduction program. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, Copenhagen, 08 1995.Google Scholar