The State - News from June 16, 1989

A Merced County farmer whose foreclosed ranch is being considered for a kit fox sanctuary says the proposal would destroy his chances of rebuilding the farm. Tom Castle of Morgan Hill says he legally has the first right to buy the 683-acre ranch he defaulted on last fall. But if two government agencies get their way, the land will be converted to permanent pasture and then restored as a habitat for the endangered fox. “That’s a real good idea, except nobody’s ever seen a kit fox on this land,” said Castle’s lawyer, Karen Russo of Woodland.