Mar 04 2009
Bringing back the good old days on the Channel Islands
![[del.icio.us]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Twitter]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://sailchannelislands.com/california-sailing/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
This Island Fox was bred in captivity, but this particular one could not thrive without bottle feeding and will remain at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
In 1928 Harry Sheldon headed for Santa Cruz Island. A naturalist, or so it was claimed, he had set out to study the island’s wildlife. But “with the foxes so plentiful … I returned as soon as I could to get ready to trap them for commercial purposes.”
He continues in his “Santa Cruz Island Mammal and bird Report,” which was republished by the Santa Cruz Foundation in A Step Back in Time“… with not a foe to prey upon them, casualties are rare and they must live out their natural lives unmolested.”
Though the handlers at the zoo tell you these critters are carnivores, Sheldon found them feeding mostly on potato bugs, crickets, berries and cactus parts. “It is obvious that they are not very proficient at catching (the abundant) birds and mice.”
The story of the fox from free-roaming and abundant to becoming an endangered species to returning to a self-sustaining population in the the wild once more is worth a great deal of study.
There is a lot of info on the fox on the Channel Islands National Park site and a quick summary of restoration efforts at the Nature Conservancy site. And, of course, you can visit the fox above at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
But if you haven’t the time for scientific names and detail, here’s Brian William’s crew with the short version:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I need a drink, I see two foxes in the top picture.
I bet you had lots of questions.
W
The first fox was interested in sailing. The second wanted to nip my index finger. I handed over a card, but the furry one ate it.
Marlin Perkins would be so proud!
Thanks for sharing Captain, good stuff I wouldn’t have seen elsewhere. I’m sure your business card will eventually help a flower grow!