Despite bad weather and the presence of natural predators such as coyotes, bobcats and eagles, many have survived and have begun reproducing in the wild. In 1996, the Canadian population of Swift Foxes in the wild was estimated at 289, mostly on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border. The release program ended in 1996, and populations are being monitored to track growth and distribution. It has been discovered that foxes from the Canadian release program have spread into northern sections of Montana. With the cooperation of Montana, the recovery team is in the process of completing a census of the shared population.
Preliminary results indicate significant growth in both population size and distribution.
The status of the Swift Fox was downlisted in 1998 from extirpated to endangered, marking only the sixteenth time in 20 years that the status of a species has been downlisted. While on track to accomplish this population objective, the goal will take another few years to achieve. Known for its down and feathers, the species was also hunted at the beginning of the century for its meat. In 1933, there were only 127 breeding pairs left in North America. Many governments and groups have worked over the years to stave off extinction.