Corsac Foxes range widely across Asia and several subspecies have been described. However, three subspecies are generally recognized, namely V. c. corsac, V. c. kalmykorum, and V. c. turkmenicus (Clark et al. 2009). Range-wide genetic assessments of taxonomy have not been undertaken.

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Not Recorded 

In the European region, the Corsac Fox is restricted to southern parts of European Russia. Populations fluctuate significantly, however, the overall population trend is not known. Population decreases are dramatic, caused by catastrophic climatic events, and numbers can drop tenfold within the space of a single year. Corsac Foxes have the ability to forego water and food for extended periods of time. They are well adapted to a hot and dry climate. The current population status and the nature of major threats are unknown, but the species is not considered threatened at present and is assessed as Least Concern for Europe. It does not occur in the EU 27 Member States.

In Europe, this species' range is restricted to Southern European Russia, where it reaches the Samara Region and Tatarstan in the north and ranges south to the border with the Russian Northern Caucasus. Historical records show this species occasionally occurred into Ukraine as far west as the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, but the current population status at the westerly edge of the species range is uncertain.

The global range covers the Middle Asian republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, as well as steppe and forest-steppe areas of Russia, including the southern region of Western Siberia. And also, much smaller area lies in southern Transbaikalia representing the northern periphery of the Mongolian and Manchurian section of the species area. Outside Russia the species area includes the steppe part of north-eastern China, including Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, and the region between Argun and Big Khingan, the entire Mongolian republic except for its forested and mountain regions, Dzungaria, Kashgaria, Afghanistan (probably only northern) and north-eastern Iran. The southern limit of distribution is unknown, but possibly it reaches to the mountain ridges separating the Tibetan Highland from the north. Occasionally, the species is recorded from the Ukrainian steppe (as far as Pavlodar to the west), eastern Transcaucasia (Azerbaijan) and, probably, western Kyrgyzstan.

Corsac Fox populations fluctuate significantly. Population decreases are dramatic, caused by catastrophic climatic events, and numbers can drop tenfold within the space of a single year. On the other hand, following favourable years, numbers can increase by the same margin and more within a three to four-year period. Corsac Foxes have the ability to forego water and food for extended periods of time. They are well adapted to a hot and dry climate.

In the European region, the species is common everywhere between the Volga and Ural rivers, but the population trend is not known.

Out of the European region, dramatic population changes were reported during the last century in PredKavkazie (Transcaucasia), between the Kuma and Terek rivers and in the Kuma-Manich Channel region. A drastic population decline was reported at the beginning of the last century (Dinnik 1914). Numbers had recovered by 1924 to 1925; one hunter during that time could take up to 15–30 Corsac Foxes in one season (Ognev 1931). By 1931 numbers decreased again with a subsequent increase in 1951 (Verezhagin 1959). In the Urals region during particular years up to 5,500 animals were taken by trappers, and up to 1,700 in the Gurievskaya region. To the south, in Mangyshlak and Ustyurt, the Corsac Fox is widespread and in some years abundant. In Russia, the Corsac Fox is rare in most regions, but common in West Siberia and Transbaikalia. It sometimes occurs in northern parts of West Siberia's forested steppes but in low numbers. In Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China, the Corsac Fox is common or abundant, although in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the species is usually rare. The population status in Afghanistan and Iran is unknown.

The Corsac Fox typically inhabits steppes, semi-deserts and deserts, avoiding mountains, forested areas and dense bush. In the western part of the range, they occur in low-grass steppe, avoiding dense and tall grass steppes. In the Caspian (Kaspyi) Sea region the steppes and tarragon-cereal semi-deserts are favoured. It also occurs in fixed-sand habitats (Nogaiskaya Steppe). In the Volgo-Ural watershed, the Corsac Fox inhabits most usual habitats, but prefers semi-deserts.

To the east of the Ural Mountains, out of the European region, the species inhabits steppes and in favourable years occurs even in forested steppes. In Kazakhstan typical habitats are low grass steppes and semi-deserts, often inhabiting low hills, but avoiding low mountains. In Middle Asia it inhabits semi-deserts and ephemeral deserts, avoiding drifting sands. One limiting factor is snow depth in winter, and this species avoids areas where the depth of snow exceeds 150 mm, preferring areas where the snow is either shallower or highly compressed.

Corsac Foxes appear to depend on the distribution of ground squirrels and marmots for food and shelter (the burrows being enlarged and used for refuge).

The nature of major threats is not well known in Europe. In Kalmykia, large desert areas are changing into grass steppes, less suitable for Corsac Foxes. Across Middle Asia and Kazakhstan, chnages to agricultural practices including livestock numbers have influenced many ecosystems and wildlife populations. However, the exact influence of this process on Corsac populations in Europe remains unknown. Future habitat changes from climate change also present an unknown threat.

Hunting for Corsac pelts is not now considered a major threat globally.

Corsac pelts have been intensively traded in the past. In general, over much of Russia during the 19th century, as many as 40,000–50,000 Corsac pelts were traded in some years. However, Corsac are now usually trapped only incidentally, as pelts are not as highly prized as Red Fox pelts.

Corsac Foxes are protected in strict nature reserves (the highest protection status for the territory) in Russia.

The species is not listed on CITES Appendices. It is listed in some regional Red books in Russia.

No special conservation programmes have been carried out. Outside of protected areas, the Corsac has the status of game species.

Corsac Foxes breed well in captivity, and there are some 29 animals currently listed in ISIS. In Moscow Zoo during the 1960s, one pair of Corsac Foxes produced six litters during the time that they remained together.

There are several aspects of this species' biology that require investigation, including social organization and behaviour, population structure, current distribution and population status in different regions, current levels of trapping/hunting impact, and other threats to the species.