Island fox births are at record numbers
A captive breeding program to restore the island fox to the northern Channel Islands produced 38 pups this spring -- a record high since the program began in 1999.
Biologists also recorded 52 wild pups, the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy announced last week.
The groups are attempting to restore the island fox population, which declined to about 120 animals five years ago, by breeding them in captivity and releasing them into the wild.
A key part of the program is relocating golden eagles to the mainland. Eagles eat the foxes, which are smaller than their mainland cousins, and played a significant role in their decline.
Island foxes, which occupied the Channel Islands for about 15,000 years, declined by more than 95% between 1994 and 2000.
In March 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed four subspecies of island fox as endangered, including animals on San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands.
Scott Doggett
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
