San Joaquin Kit Fox: The Kit to Survival

San Joaquin Kit Fox

http://www.drakehs.org/academics/seadisc/endangeredspecies/2010/Melia%20Sam/Efforts%20Being%20Made.html

The Kit to Survival
By: Andre Kohansamad

Ecology: San Joaquin kit foxes are the smallest foxes in North America, measuring only 12 inches tall and 20 inches long and 5 pounds, with a bushy tail and long pointy ears and have a life expectancy of about 7 years. They are one of two subspecies of kit foxes, a member of the canine family. They generally live in grasslands and are mostly nocturnal animals. They live in underground dens (pictured below) that protect them from harsh environments outside as well as predators, such as coyotes. These foxes have on average four or five dens in summer months and can change dens up to 24 different times each year (defenders.org). Within these dens, kit foxes also give birth and keep their young away from harm. Kit foxes prey on various rodents, such as mice and kangaroo rats. They also consume California ground squirrels, black-tailed hares, San Joaquin antelope squirrels, desert cottontails, ground-nesting birds, and insects (ECOS).

http://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/san-joaquin-kit-fox/

Geographic and Population Changes: Surveys show that fewer than 7,000 San Joaquin kit foxes remain, which represents about a 33% decline from pre-1930 estimates (Lpfw.org). Prior to 1930, San Joaquin kit foxes roamed most of the San Joaquin Valley in Central California, from southern Kern County north to Tracy. In 1930 a study was done, and it was believed that the kit fox range had been reduced by more than half (CSU Stanlaus). Since 1930, a comprehensive survey has not been taken of kit fox ranges. However, through independent surveys and research projects it is known that they currently only reside on the edges of the San Joaquin Valley, from southern Kern County up to Alameda and Solano. The maps below illustrate how small their range is compared to other foxes and their distribution area.

http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/kfox.html

http://esrp.csustan.edu/gis/

Listing Date and Type: San Joaquin Kit Foxes were originally listed on the federal endangered species list in 1967. They were also listed by the state of California as a threatened species in 1971. Their listing type is endangered. The recovery plan for the San Joaquin Kit Fox was written in 1998.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats: San Joaquin kit foxes have become endangered due to many human-induced factors, such as shooting, trapping, poisoning, and road kill. However, the main cause for decline in fox populations has been habitat destruction and degradation. Conversion of grasslands to agricultural lands and urban development has caused this degradation to kit fox habitats in the San Joaquin Valley. It is estimated that only about 6.7 percent of the San Joaquin Valley's original wild lands remains undeveloped (ECOS). Loss of habitat has reduced the carrying capacity (number of organisms that can live in a certain habitat) for San Joaquin kit foxes, as well as reduced the number of prey in the area. Continued habitat fragmentation and grassland development will further decrease kit fox populations.

Recovery Plan: The San Joaquin kit fox is considered an umbrella species, meaning conservation efforts toward this species will aid many other organisms in the area. These foxes have a wide geographical range, so conserving their habitat will also conserve other organisms with smaller ranges. The recovery plan entails conserving three main core populations and approximately 9-12 satellite ones. A core population is one that anchors the entire population and hosts many organisms, while a satellite one will have a smaller concentration of foxes. The recovery plan also focuses on creating connections between these populations, so that foxes can safely move from one population to another. The plan will also give farmers incentives to maintain habitats suitable for kit foxes, under the American Farmland Trust (a proposal to address habitat fragmentation) (ECOS). Certain farmlands with drainage problems will be retired to turn into suitable habitat for kit foxes. This will help create stepping stones for kit foxes to travel between large populations. The recovery plan lists many tasks to complete, most of which include, maintaining and protecting natural lands which still provide habitat for San Joaquin kit foxes, and converting old farmland to new habitat. Hopefully these adorable animals will be recovered soon.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d4/6f/b5/d46fb5ee182a7aa303ef6a26289c5698.jpg

Links!!

1) Facts about San Joaquin kit foxes

2) Adopt a Kit Fox

Sources: 

1) "Basic Facts About San Joaquin Kit Foxes." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://www.defenders.org/san-joaquin-kit-fox/basic-facts>. (Defenders.org)

2) Brown, N. L., C. D. Johnson, P. A. Kelly, and D. F. Williams. "San Joaquin Kit Fox." Endangered Species Recovery Program. CSU Stanislaus, n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fesrp.csustan.edu%2Fspeciesprofiles%2Fprofile.php%3Fsp%3Dvuma>. (CSU Stanislaus)

3) "San Joaquin Kit Fox." Los Padres Forest Watch. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://lpfw.org/our-region/wildlife/san-joaquin-kit-fox/>. (Lpfw.org)

4) United States of America. US Fish & Wildlife Service. Species and Populations with Recovery Plans. By Daniel F. Williams, Ellen A. Cypher, Patrick A. Kelly, Karen J. Miller, Nancy Norvell, Scott E. Phillips, Sheryl D. Johnson, and Gary W. Colliver. N.p., 30 Sept. 1998. Web. 12 Mar. 2015. <http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/speciesRecovery.jsp?sort=1>. (ECOS)