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This came through in another group and thought it was interesting and wanted to share
Maggie
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/sep/11/kansas_foxes_heading_sd/
Kansas foxes heading to S.D.The Associated Press
Monday, September 11, 2006
Gif Picture of a fox family:)
Hays — Dozens of swift foxes have been rounded up in western Kansas for relocation to South Dakota, where an Indian tribe wants to reintroduce the little canines on its reservation.
Native to Plains grasslands, the swift fox — small and speedy, averaging less than 10 pounds — disappeared over the decades from entire swaths of North American habitat, including the 221,000-acre reservation of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe in central South Dakota.
“We don’t have any foxes on the reservation,” said biologist Shaun Grassel, who led the tribe’s team. About two-thirds of South Dakota is the animal’s historic range, Grassel added, but “for a variety of reasons, they pretty much went extinct.”
Setting up camp Sept. 1 at Scott State Park in Logan County, the team spent several days trapping 20 male and 20 female swift foxes. Once caught, each animal is vaccinated and has a blood sample drawn.
The tribe’s effort is the third in South Dakota. The Turner Endangered Species Fund and the Badlands National Park are also working to reintroduce the fox.
The tribe’s project has been in the works since 2004, when Grassel first looked at the feasibility of the effort. That’s when he made contact with other states, including Kansas, that have surplus populations of the swift fox.
Before he could start trapping, Grassel needed a permit from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. He had nothing but positive words for the agency and for the state, which — like South Dakota — is a member of the Swift Fox Conservation Team.
“Kansas has been wonderful to work with,” Grassel said.
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