In addition to the ubiquitous red fox, there are three other species of foxes that call Colorado home—the gray fox, the kit fox, and the swift fox. Our two most common fox species, the red and gray, are similar in size—about three feet long and weighing nine to eleven pounds. Swift and kit foxes, however, are similar in size to a domestic house cat, about 30 inches long (nose to tip of tail) and weighing four to seven pounds. These ‘dainty’ fox species are far less abundant than their red and gray cousins, and are more elusive for the casual wildlife observer.
Occupying the semi-desert shrub lands from Montrose to Grand Junction, the kit fox can be distinguished from the swift fox by its more angular appearance and its larger ears. Its yellow-gray, grizzled coat helps the kit fox blend into the arid landscape.
The swift fox, which can also dwell in desert areas, seems to prefer the short-grass prairie of the eastern plains. Along its back, the swift fox has light gray fur that contrasts with a creamy-white underside and chest. The sides and legs grade into an orange-tan coloring. Both the swift and kit fox have a very bushy, black-tipped tail.
Their primarily nocturnal lifestyles and relative scarcity make the kit and swift foxes difficult to find and observe. Winter offers additional opportunities.
These foxes breed during the winter, December through March, and so may have extra four to six pups to feed. With this added family obligation, feeding forays may, by necessity, extend into the daylight hours, increasing the opportunities to see them. On cool, clear, late-mornings in winter, look for adults and pups sunning themselves outside of their den.