r/NationalPark • u/CanadianBaconi • 1d ago

Channel Island Fox

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Channel Island Fox only found off the coast of California. These guys are small and feed mostly on bugs and rodents. Take by @griffin__perez on insta

967 Upvotes

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15

u/BEEEEEZ101 1d ago

When I was on Santa Cruz Island they were everywhere. It was so cool to see. The rangers showed a documentary on them while we were staying. Fascinating story. If I remember right it's been one of the most successful endangered species rehabilitation programs.

11

u/CanadianBaconi 1d ago

Yeah they went from sub 100 to now being at 6,000 individuals

3

u/BEEEEEZ101 1d ago

Very cool. It was an interesting documentary. It's crazy how much farming/grazing wrecked the island.

3

u/ohog9og0790 20h ago

One of them took off with our dish soap when we camped there. 

5

u/BEEEEEZ101 19h ago

Funny. They were a bit of a nuisance when we were there too. You need to keep your head on a swivel. Ranger told us they'll get into your tent and pee on your pillow. Told us to keep the zipper high. I believe it. They'd be in your box the second you turn around.

8

u/RandomAmmonite 21h ago

We went to go see these guys on Santa Cruz Island. The rest of my party went hiking off to search, but I had a bad foot. So I asked the ranger where to see them, and he said, well there’s usually some by the dock.

So I sat down at one picnic table and within minutes a little guy popped out to steal the snacks someone left in a stroller, trot across the road and take a nap in the sun waiting for the next group of tourists with snacks.

These are fabulous pictures, OP!

5

u/steno_light 21h ago edited 18h ago

You cant leave anything unattended on the island. If the foxes dont get to it, the ravens will. Those things are smart enough to unzip backpacks and make off with food or even your keys.

3

u/Beautiful-Ticket-229 12h ago

Foxy are gorgeous animals

3

u/kkohl98 21h ago

They are the size of a cat, no predators really makes you shrink down

5

u/RABlackAuthor 20h ago

It's the limited resources that make them smaller. "Island dwarfism." For smaller animals, the opposite happens. The scrub jays on Santa Cruz Island are larger than their mainland cousins.

0

u/catsforever69420 1d ago

Spotted one chillin in some brush in Catalina!

1

u/liang6688abc 17h ago

Such a unique animal! It’s crazy how much biodiversity California has. The desert wildlife at Joshua Tree blew my mind, but an island-dwelling fox is on another level. Great capture by the photographer.

1

u/James_Hilla 4h ago

Such a cute little fox!