The swift fox was extirpated from most of its range by the mid-20th century through trapping and poisoning, but recovery programmes have restored populations across parts of the Great Plains.
Swift fox recovery is a conservation success story that also reflects welfare improvements at the population level. Reintroduced foxes have access to natural territory and prey, representing a far higher welfare state than the poisoned and trapped individuals who populated the historical range. However, reintroduced foxes still face snare trapping intended for other species, vehicle strikes, and coyote predation. Their small size makes them vulnerable to a wide range of threats. Continuing to support grassland conservation and predator-friendly trapping regulations is essential to sustain the recovery and maintain good welfare outcomes for reintroduced populations.