Decline in Island Foxes

Re “Breeding Effort Yields 11 Island Fox Pups,” June 2.

I find it a little disingenuous to blame the golden eagle for the sudden decline in the number of island foxes and highly ironic that the attempt to return the islands to their “native” state has resulted in the high-maintenance activities of moving eagles and breeding foxes.

The Park Service and the other groups blame the increase in the number of fox-eating golden eagles on the decline of bald eagles from DDT and the introduction of feral pigs to the islands. Well, the decline in bald eagles happened largely in the 1950s, and they have long since recovered and are off the endangered species list, so that can’t be it. The feral pigs have been on the islands for more than 100 years, so that can’t be it. In fact, when hunters and ranchers were actively using the islands up until a couple of years ago, the island foxes seemed to be doing just fine.

What has changed in recent years is the aggressive “return-to-nature” policy on the islands, including the abrupt removal and / or extermination of the feral pigs. It’s simple: With the feral pigs gone, the golden eagles now must hunt the island foxes!

This sudden intervention by man has caused the fox problem, and we’re talking about the do-gooders, not the evil DDT manufacturers or ranchers of old.

We have met the enemy and, once again, he is us.

JOHN LYON

Oak Park