Island Fox update – Santa Cruz Island’s famous residents doing well

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Island Fox

Although this particular fox is in the Santa Barbara Zoo, her cousins in the wild are doing very well. I know, anthropomorphism is a bad habit I have, but it’s easier to care about something soft and furry than slimy and spikey. So in the interests of promoting anthropomorphism, here’s a link to a Nature Conservancy piece on our favorite rescue animals. Island Foxes Slide Show.

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Santa Barbara Zoo
Nature Conservancy
Sail Channel Islands
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PS No, we’ve never seen a fox in the wild. The closest we’ve got is seeing fresh scat.

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One thought on “Island Fox update – Santa Cruz Island’s famous residents doing well”

  1. Yes, they’re cute little guys alright. And they appear to be doing well, which is comforting, considering all of the time, money and effort that has been expended on their behalf.

    To review:
    1. Island Fox population begins to decline. Spend gobs of money on the removal of their predator, the Golden Eagle.

    2. Spend more gobs of money on a captive breeding and re-introduction program for the Island Fox.

    3. But we really need eagles, don’t we? So spend more gobs of money on a captive breeding and re-introduction program for the Bald Eagle. We know that the Bald Eagles won’t prey on the Island Fox, since the book says they are scavengers and prey only on aquatic vertebrates.

    Then:
    4. Both the Bald Eagle and the Island Fox breed successfully, and build their respective populations to substantial levels. Bald eagles begin to view all of those baby foxes as tasty little morsels, and they’re a helluva lot easier to catch than fish.

    5. Bald Eagles begin to prey upon the Island Fox, causing their population to crash.

    6. Spend gobs of money removing the Bald Eagles from the Islands.

    7. Spend more gobs of money on a captive breeding and reintroduction program for the Island Fox.

    8. But we really need eagles, don’t we? So….

    ;-)