nps photo

Remote camera catches foxes at play

Recovery of San Miguel Island Foxes

With the birth of 10 pups in spring 2005, and the mortalities of 2 adults, the captive island fox population on San Miguel Island grew to 48 foxes, of which 1 escaped from captivity in June 2005, and 21 were released to the wild in fall 2005. One released fox died due to unknown causes in March 2006. Nine pups were weaned from 4 litters in the wild, and 1 of those wild-born juveniles died from eagle predation in January 2006. By April 2006 there were 26 adult foxes in captivity, and 39 in the wild, for a subspecies total of 65 foxes.

nps photo

Releasing a fox

Recovery of Santa Rosa Island Foxes

With the birth of 8 pups in spring 2005, the captive island fox population on Santa Rosa Island grew to 51 foxes, of which 17 were released to the wild in fall 2005. After releases, 8 foxes had died as of 30 April 2006. Six Santa Rosa Island foxes died from eagle predation: 2 foxes released in fall 2005, 2 foxes released in fall 2004, and 2 juveniles born in the wild in 2005. Two other foxes died of unknown causes, but not predation. Nine pups were weaned from 3 wild litters in spring 2005. By April 2006 there were 32 foxes in the wild on Santa Rosa Island.

Recovery of Santa Cruz Island Foxes

The captive island fox population on Santa Cruz Island grew to 62 foxes in spring 2005 with the addition of 20 pups. One captive fox died during 2005, of abdominal bleeding and trauma to the liver. No foxes were released to the wild in 2005. By the end of 2005 over 70 radiocollared wild foxes were being monitored in the wild, and annual survivorship of wild foxes remained at over 80%.