Historical Biogeography of Foxes in Kansas

Abstract

The distribution and numerical status of each of the three species of foxes in Kansas have changed appreciably in the past century. Undocumented information suggests the red fox was common in parts of western Kansas, and therefore probably occurred statewide, at the time of settlement of the region by European Man. Populations west of the Flint Hills diminished or were extirpated by the end of the 19th century. Relict populations in the west or immigrants from the east, or both, possibly supplemented with individuals imported for sport hunting, began to reoccupy the former range in western Kansas (primarily in riparian habitats) by the 1930's, and in two or three decades the species dispersed essentially throughout the state. The species now is abundant in most areas, especially in southwestern Kansas. The swift fox was abundant in western Kansas when that region was settled in the mid-1800's. It became rare by the 1930's, but apparently was not extirpated. The decline in numbers and distribution ceased at about midcentury, and the species subsequently reoccupied much of its original distribution. Today, the swift fox is abundant on the High Plains of western Kansas. The gray fox was rare and occurred only in easternmost Kansas in the early 1900's, but became more numerous by about mid-century. It dispersed westward in riparian habitats associated with the Kansas and Arkansas river systems at about that time, and became relatively common in certain areas of western Kansas by the 1960's and 1970's. Subsequently, the species seemingly again became rare and its range possibly diminished eastward.