Catalina Island Foxes - Tenemos Mas!
I was hiking up the Middle Ranch Road between Ben Weston Beach and Shark Harbor a couple weeks ago and came around the corner to see a flash of silver and rust dart across the road. A Channel Islands Fox had just crossed my path! These foxes are endemic to the channel islands and found no where else in the world! I crouched down at the side of the road to see what it would do and within no more than two or three minutes I saw it trotting along next to a low stand of prickly pear cactus. It paused at the top of the hill no more than fifty feet away and looked in my direction for a few sconds before nonchalantly turning and disappearing into the brush.
The foxes on the island were nearly wiped out by canine distemper just a few years ago. In 1999 there were fewer than 100 of them left on Catalina Island and in 2004 they were placed on the endangered species list. Predation from Golden Eagles also greatly impacts the species throughout the island chain. Most of the surviving population was on the west side of the narrow isthmus at Two Harbors that restricted the spread of the virus. Fortunately, due to the incredible efforts of the Catlina Conservancy and the Institute for Wildlife Studies, some of the west-end population was relocated and was able to re-establish itself on the larger, eastern portion of the island. Amazingly, a recent population count put the fox numbers at over 750!
Experiences like this really drive home to me what a magical place this is! Where else on earth can you be literally right outside one of the largest cities in the world yet totally immersed in the wonder of nature?
Posted by Jared Ruplinger on May 5th, 2009 | Posted in hiking |
I saw a Catalina Island Fox on Hour Trail Tuesday morning! He darted in front of my bike and into the bushes.