Swift fox restoration and population trend monitoring on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of northwestern Montana.

Dave Ausband, M.S.Thesis, Wildlife Biology Program; completed December 2005

In 1998 Defenders of Wildlife and the Blackfeet Tribe began a series of reintroduction efforts to establish a population of swift foxes ( Vulpes velox ) on Tribal lands. Between 1998 and 2001 a total of 123 individuals were released. Dave was initially involved with this project as a field technician and chose this research as the focus for his Master's degree. Dave addressed several objectives: documenting survival of swift foxes and the dispersal and reproduction of juveniles, and determining the range over which foxes have dispersed and their density on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. He also developed a long-term monitoring program to track population trends. This research was funded by Defenders of Wildlife, the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, the SWG Program through MTFWP, and The University of Montana.

Dave radiocollared 23 adult and 35 juvenile swift fox from 2003-2005 to estimate survival and fecundity. He and his field crew identified 93 individuals during the summer of 2005 and has visited 13 natal dens. Swift foxes have also been found as far south as Augusta, MT.

A complete description of his research can be found in his thesis in the Mansfield Library at The University of Montana and the publications listed under "Recent Publications".

Contact Dave Ausband: daveausband@yahoo.com