Question

which human intervention would most likely protect and maintain kit fox populations?

protect grasslands and prairies from development

move kit foxes to areas with large populations of similar mammals

introduce a species that could be a new kit fox food source

move kit foxes to sparsely populated mountainous regions

Answer 1

The most effective human intervention to protect and maintain kit fox populations would be to **protect grasslands and prairies from development**. This approach addresses the primary threat to kit foxes, which is habitat loss due to urbanization and agricultural development. By preserving their natural habitat, we can ensure that kit foxes have access to the resources they need for survival, such as food, shelter, and space to breed.

While moving kit foxes to areas with large populations of similar mammals or introducing new food sources could potentially help in certain circumstances, these methods can also carry risks, such as disease transmission or ecological imbalance. Moving them to sparsely populated mountainous regions may not provide suitable habitat for kit foxes, as they are adapted to grassland and prairie environments. Therefore, habitat protection is the most practical and sustainable solution.