Local Awareness of the Swift Fox Reintroduction Program in North Western Montana, USA

摘要

In 1998, the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department of Browning, Montana, the Cochrane Ecological Institute (based in Canada), and the Defenders of Wildlife began a program to reintroduce the swift fox (Vulpes velox) to the Blackfeet reservation. Swift fox were released in late August or early September at the same release site between 1998 and 2002. A press release accompanied the event every year. A brochure about the reintroduction program was produced by Defenders of Wildlife and distributed to: (a) tribal members through all post office boxes on the reservation, (b) hunters along with their hunting permits, and (c) local schools and community colleges during presentations by Blackfeet Fish & Wildlife staff. Apart from the annual media reports, non-residents of the reservation were not included in any of the aforementioned. This findings abstract compares reservation residents' and non-residents' awareness of the swift fox reintroduction program.