Assess Long term Viability of Restored Swift Foxes in Badlands NP and western South Dakota | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this cooperative agreement funding opportunity?

The purpose is to evaluate whether swift foxes restored to Badlands National Park (Badlands NP) and nearby areas of western South Dakota can persist over the long term as a healthy, self-sustaining population. The work is meant to move beyond short-term release outcomes and answer the larger question of long-term population viability.

What restoration effort led to this monitoring and research need?

Badlands NP began a three-year swift fox restoration effort in 2003. The park has evidence that a substantial portion of released animals survived long enough to reproduce, suggesting the reintroduction may be taking hold and that a focused, longer-term assessment is the next step.

What key questions is the project trying to answer?

The central question is whether the restored swift fox population is likely to persist over the long term without continual human intervention. The project is also intended to identify what factors might limit persistence and to generate information that can guide near-term management decisions and longer-term conservation planning.

What types of data will be collected to evaluate population viability?

The project focuses on collecting field and lab information that directly indicates population health and trajectory, including reproduction, pup survival, habitat preference, and genetic information.

How will reproduction be evaluated?

Reproduction is described in terms of whether breeding is occurring consistently and how many pups are produced, as examples of the types of measures that can indicate population performance.

Why is pup survival a major focus?

Pup survival (how many pups make it through critical early life stages) is one of the direct indicators of whether the population can sustain itself over time.

What does "habitat preference" mean in the context of this project?

Habitat preference refers to which landscapes and habitat features the foxes are selecting, and what those choices imply for protection or management in and around Badlands NP.

Why does the project include genetic information?

Genetic information is included to understand relatedness, genetic diversity, and potential risks associated with a small or isolated founding population. These insights are part of assessing long-term viability.

What is meant by a "viability assessment" here?

A viability assessment is described as a science-based judgment about whether the restored swift fox population is likely to persist without continual human intervention and what factors might limit it.

How will the results be used for management decisions at Badlands NP?

The monitoring and research are intended to guide decisions about whether additional releases or other forms of population supplementation are necessary after the initial restoration program ends, and whether the park should adjust strategies or shift resources toward habitat management and connectivity instead of continued translocations.

What management decision is a major driver behind this work?

A major driver is determining whether the park should continue adding foxes (through additional releases or supplementation) after the initial restoration program ends, or whether other strategies should be prioritized.

What does the opportunity say about connectivity with other swift fox populations?

A key aim is to determine whether, and when, the Badlands swift foxes connect with the resident swift fox population in southwestern South Dakota, including whether animals move between areas and breed across the two groups.

What is a metapopulation, and why does it matter for this project?

The opportunity describes a metapopulation as a system where multiple local groups are linked by dispersal. If the Badlands group and the resident southwestern South Dakota group become connected through movement and breeding, that connectivity could reduce the risk that any one local population will disappear and could increase genetic diversity through gene flow.

Which agency offered this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity was issued by the National Park Service.

What program and award mechanism were used?

The opportunity was issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program and used a Cooperative Agreement mechanism, which typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the agency during the project.

What was the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category was Natural Resources.

How many awards were expected?

One expected award was listed.

What was the total estimated funding amount?

The total estimated funding was $161,798.

Was there an award ceiling and floor, and what does that imply?

Both the award ceiling and award floor were listed as $161,798. This implies a single award at a fixed amount.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching was required.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on July 2, 2008. The original and current closing date were both July 9, 2008.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on August 8, 2008.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broadly labeled as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full announcement. This is consistent with CESU opportunities that may be targeted to participating CESU institutions or partners.

Who can be contacted for access issues related to the opportunity?

The listed contact for access issues was Tonya Bradley, Contract Specialist, at 402-661-1656 or tonyabradley@nps.gov.