San Joaquin kit fox | |
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Male San Joaquin kit fox | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Canidae |
Genus: | Vulpes |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | V. m. mutica |
Trinomial name | |
Vulpes macrotis mutica Merriam, 1902 |
The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is an endangered species of fox that was formerly very common in the San Joaquin Valley and much of Central California. As an opportunistic hunter, the San Joaquin kit fox primarily preys on kangaroo rats but also targets white-footed mice, pocket mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, and ground-nesting birds. During certain times of the year, especially when other food sources might be scarce, it will also consume insects. Its 1990 population was estimated to be 7,000. This subspecies is still endangered, after nearly 50 years of being on the Endangered Species List. Officially this subspecies was listed March 3, 1967. [1] On September 26, 2007, Wildlands Inc. announced the designation of the 684-acre (2.77 km2) Deadman Creek Conservation Bank, which is intended specifically to protect habitat of the San Joaquin kit fox. [2] However, the population continues to decline mostly due to heavy habitat loss. Other factors include competition from red fox, and the extermination of the gray wolf from California has left the coyote as the dominant meso-predator in kit fox territory bringing an imbalance in ecosystem relationships. Sarcoptic mange has also constituted a significant threat, specifically to the Bakersfield population of the subspecies, with 15 confirmed cases reported by the end of 2014. [3]
Historically, it has mostly occupied in the San Joaquin Valley from southern Kern County north to Tracy, San Joaquin County, on the west side, and near La Grange, Stanislaus County, on the east side. [4] Yet, its ranges has been shrinking down in size in the past years. By 1930 its range is mostly believed to be reduced by more than half, with the largest remaining portion being the western and southern portions of the Valley. And in 1979, only 6.7% of land south of Stanislaus County remained undeveloped. The current largest populations of San Joaquin kit fox is living around the western Kern County on and around the Elk Hills and Buena Vista Valley. Though no continuous monitoring within the central and northern portions of the habit range, populations were recorded in the late 1980s. [4]
San Joaquin kit fox, a subspecies of the kit fox, which is the smallest species of dog family in North America. It has a body length average of 20 inches; 12 of those inches are its tail length. Its height ranges from 9 to 12 inches at the shoulder and its adult body weight is about 5 pounds for males and 4.6 pounds for females. [5] It is known for its conspicuously large ears. From a sample of 21 tracks from the San Joaquin Valley, the average length of foot pads of the San Joaquin kit fox is about 3.1 centimeters with an average width of 2.6 centimeters, which is comparable smaller than the other canids, foxes, wolves, jackals, etc. The remaining physical appearance characteristics includes its long legs, slim body, pointed and slim nose, and low carried tail. While San Joaquin kit fox's coat colors may vary by range and season, primarily they appears more tan in summer and grey in winter with the external ear flap being dark on the back sides and white hairs on the forward-inner border and base.[ citation needed ]
The San Joaquin kit fox tends to favor the open grassland or scrubland, where its inhabits dens and feeds on prey such as field mice, kangaroo rats, ground squirrels and insects for some cases and mostly active at night. [6] Their dens usually appear to be complex and deep dens with multiple openings that provide them with temperature regulation, shelter from the severe environmental conditions, protection from predators and place of reproduction. A study of the San Joaquin kit fox with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mentions about how the kit foxes can change various of dens throughout a month, as the use of numerous dens seems to be one of their survival strategy. [7] And its diet appears to vary from geographically, seasonally and annually upon the temporal and spatial variation of the amount of prey. For example, the diet from the southern, central and northern part of its habit varies from the proportion of each type of prey that they consume due to the distribution of its prey. In addition to their diet, their activity also varies from the year. For instance, it is more often observed during the day in the late spring and early summer each year, despite it being considered primarily nocturnal. [4] While San Joaquin kit fox might not breed in its first year, its ability to reproduce begins when it is one year old. The mating period is usually between late December and March with a median gestation period that can range from 48 to 52 days with a result of 2 to 6 pups. [4] The pups emerge the den for their first time soon after their first month, and after 4 to 5 months, they begin dispersing, while occasionally young females remain with the adult female for several more months.[ citation needed ]
The San Joaquin kit fox is a native species that once thrived across the Central Valley, [1] encompassing over millions acres of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands. However, human activities have drastically altered this landscape. Only 4,140 km2 of high suitability habitat and 7,268 km2 of medium suitability habitat remain for San Joaquin kit foxes, and much of this habitat is highly fragmented. [3] Agricultural development has been a primary driver, with the San Joaquin Valley now accounting for a substantial portion of California's agricultural output. For example, in the San Joaquin Valley there’s mass farming of almonds that take up a large amount of desert land and make it uninhabitable for the local native desert fauna. [8] Urban expansion further compounds the issue. For instance, Bakersfield is currently the largest city within the range of the kit fox with a population of 380,000. However, the urban and suburban Bakersfield area has expanded to comprise approximately 70 percent of the Metropolitan Bakersfield satellite area for the kit fox. [4] The consequence of such profound habitat transformation has been the fragmentation and isolation of kit fox populations. This not only limits the fox's range but also creates barriers that impede movement, restrict gene flow, and increase mortality risks. Today, much of the kit fox's movement corridors are degraded or blocked, and only a few large areas of native grasslands remain on the San Joaquin Valley's perimeter, [9] underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive conservation efforts.[ citation needed ]
An additional threat to the habitat of the San Joaquin Kit Fox is the expansion of fracking. In late 2012 the Bureau of Land Management auctioned off Land in the Monterey Shale which houses many endangered species including the San Joaquin Kit Fox. The construction of fracking facilities disrupt and separate the environment of the San Joaquin Kit Fox while the operation of these facilities release dangerous chemicals which pollute the local ecosystem. Environmentalists attempted to sue the department for not conducting an environmental impact report but their efforts were in vain and the project went through. [8]
The use of rodenticides and pesticides presents a significant threat to the San Joaquin kit fox, especially given the creature's close proximity to areas of human activity. Rodenticides, particularly anticoagulant rodenticides, are chemicals used to control rodent populations. For example, kit foxes may be killed if they ingest rodenticide in a bait application, or if they consume rodents that have consumed bait. Reports by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation document at least 76 separate incidents of San Joaquin kit fox poisonings from super-toxic rodenticides. In the Bakersfield area more than 87 percent of kit foxes have been exposed to these toxins. [10]
Pesticides, which are designed to eliminate or control pests, can also have detrimental effects on non-target species like the San Joaquin kit fox. The vast agricultural expanse of the San Joaquin Valley relies heavily on pesticide use. Ingesting prey contaminated with pesticides or directly consuming these chemicals from the environment can harm and kill the fox. Plausible scenarios for exposure to pesticides suggest a reduction in kit fox populations by approximately 13%. [11] Additionally, based on a Modeled Kit Fox Populations, 36% of the modeled foxes become exposed, resulting in a 7–18% decline in the range-wide kit fox population that can be linked to rodenticide use. [12]
Diseases have been a concern for the San Joaquin kit fox. One of the most notable diseases affecting the San Joaquin kit fox is Mange. Mange – a skin condition caused by parasitic mites—leads to hair loss, open wounds from scratching and, ultimately, death. The first case was detected among the kit fox population in March 2013 and the epidemic has grown worse every year. [13] Luckily, although mortality from this outbreak is high (70% overall and 100% without veterinary intervention), thus far it appears to be largely limited to Bakersfield. [14]
Another significant health concern for the San Joaquin kit fox is rabies, a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. An outbreak of this disease, detected among striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), may have contributed to a 5-fold decrease in the relative abundance of kit foxes at Camp Roberts Army National Guard Training Site, California, during 1988–1991. [15] Exposure to other wildlife, contaminated environments, or even domestic animals can result in the transmission of these and other diseases, emphasizing the importance of disease monitoring and management in conservation efforts.[ citation needed ]
Climate change affects San Joaquin kit fox through changes in precipitation and temperature, which can drive associated changes to vegetative communities as well alterations to prey species abundance and composition. In California, annual average temperatures have increased by about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit (°F). [16] This increase in temperature can lead to changes in the habitats and distribution of the kit fox's primary prey, potentially reducing food availability and forcing the fox to expand its search for sustenance. Additionally, altered precipitation patterns, with intensified precipitation patterns (for example, larger but fewer rainfall events) and more frequent and extreme drought, [17] threaten the ecosystem balance of the valley. Several severe drought events in California in the past decade have affected water sources and vegetation that the San Joaquin kit fox relies on. These climatic shifts can further fragment habitats, making it challenging for isolated fox populations to find mates or access vital resources.[ citation needed ]
The San Joaquin kit fox is listed as an endangered species that is protected under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, a precursor to the Endangered Species Act. [18] This listing prohibits activities that would harm, harass, or lead to the "take" (i.e., harm or kill) of these foxes without appropriate federal authorization. It is also an endangered species that is protected under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA), [19] providing an extra layer of protection at the state level. Additionally, The US Fish and Wildlife Service provides standardized recommendations for protection of the San Joaquin kit fox prior to or during ground disturbance. [19] These recommendations include survey protocols, burrow mapping, and exclusion fencing.[ citation needed ]
These legal safeguards mandate the development and implementation of recovery plans, the identification of critical habitats, and measures to mitigate potential harms from development and other activities in the San Joaquin Valley.[ citation needed ]
The indigenous peoples of the San Joaquin Valley, such as the Yokuts, held specific reverence or stories tied to local fauna like the kit fox.[ citation needed ]
Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush").
Vulpes is a genus of the sub-family Caninae. The members of this genus are colloquially referred to as true foxes, meaning they form a proper clade. The word "fox" occurs in the common names of all species of the genus, but also appears in the common names of other canid species. True foxes are distinguished from members of the genus Canis, such as domesticated dogs, wolves, jackals and coyotes, by their smaller size (5–11 kg), longer, bushier tail, and flatter skull. They have black, triangular markings between their eyes and nose, and the tip of their tail is often a different color from the rest of their pelt. The typical lifespan for this genus is between two and four years, but can reach up to a decade.
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The kit fox is a fox species that inhabits arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. These foxes are the smallest of the four species of Vulpes occurring in North America and are among the smallest of the vulpines worldwide. It has also been called a North American counterpart of the fennec fox due to its large ears.
The giant kangaroo rat is an endangered species of heteromyid rodent endemic to California.
The swift fox is a small light orange-tan fox around the size of a domestic cat found in the western grasslands of North America, such as Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It also lives in southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Canada, where it was previously extirpated. It is closely related to the kit fox and some mammalogists classify them as conspecific. However, molecular systematics imply that the two species are distinct. Interbreeding between the two species does occur where their ranges overlap, but this hybridization is quite restricted in scope.
The California Central Valley grasslands is a temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion in California's Central Valley. It a diverse ecoregion containing areas of desert grassland, prairie, savanna, riparian forest, marsh, several types of seasonal vernal pools, and large lakes such as now-dry Tulare Lake, Buena Vista Lake, and Kern Lake.
The San Joaquin antelope squirrel or Nelson's antelope squirrel, is a species of antelope squirrel, in the San Joaquin Valley of the U.S. state of California.
The tricolored blackbird is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae. Its range is limited to the coastal areas of the Pacific coast of North America, from Northern California in the U.S., to upper Baja California in Mexico.
The mountain yellow-legged frog, also known as the southern mountain yellow-legged frog, is a species of true frog endemic to California in the United States. It occurs in the San Jacinto Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, and San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California and the Southern Sierra Nevada. It is a federally listed endangered species, separated into two distinct population segments (DPS): a northern DPS, listed endangered in 2014, and a southern DPS that was listed endangered in 2002.
The delta smelt is an endangered slender-bodied smelt, about 5 to 7 cm long, in the family Osmeridae. Endemic to the upper Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary of California, it mainly inhabits the freshwater-saltwater mixing zone of the estuary, except during its spawning season, when it migrates upstream to fresh water following winter "first flush" flow events. It functions as an indicator species for the overall health of the Delta's ecosystem.Delta Smelt are usually found at temperatures of less than 25°C and prefer temperatures of around 20°C. They are euryhaline but occur mostly at salinities of 0–7 practical salinity units.
The splittail, also called Sacramento splittail, is a cyprinid fish native to the low-elevation waters of the Central Valley in California. It was first described by William O. Ayres in 1854. It is the sole living member of its genus, the Clear Lake splittail P. ciscoides having become extinct in the 1970s.
The Hawaiian hoary bat, also known as ʻōpeʻapeʻa, is a species of bat endemic to the islands of Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiian hoary bat occupies the major Hawaiian islands, making it the only extant and native terrestrial mammal in the islands. Some studies report that the mainland hoary bat lives in sympatry on the Hawaiian Islands alongside the Hawaiian hoary bat, although this is disputed. The Hawaiian hoary bat was officially named the state land mammal of Hawaiʻi in 2015. It is a federally listed endangered taxon of the United States.
Great Valley Grasslands State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving a parcel of remnant native grassland in the San Joaquin Valley. Such a temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome was once widespread throughout the whole Central Valley. The 2,826-acre (1,144 ha) park was established in 1982. Largely undeveloped, it was formed by combining two former state park units: San Luis Island and Fremont Ford State Recreation Area. Its chief attractions for visitors are spring wildflowers, fishing, and wildlife watching.
The South Belridge Oil Field is a large oil field in northwestern Kern County, San Joaquin Valley, California, about forty miles west of Bakersfield. Discovered in 1911, and having a cumulative production of over 2,000 million barrels (320,000,000 m3) of oil equivalent at the end of 2023, it is the fourth-largest oil field in California, after the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, Kern River Oil Field, and Wilmington Oil Field, and is the sixth-most productive field in the United States. Its estimated remaining reserves, as of the end of 2008, were around 494 million barrels (78,500,000 m3) out of approximately 10.2 billion barrels of original oil in place, and it had 6,253 active wells. The principal operator on the field was Aera Energy LLC, a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil. Additionally, the field included the only onshore wells in California owned and operated by ExxonMobil.
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The Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located in the foothills of the southwestern San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. The refuge is one of four units of the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex for California condors.
Pixley National Wildlife Refuge is located 35 miles (56 km) south of Tulare, California and 45 miles (72 km) north of Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley. The 6,939-acre (2,808 ha) nature refuge represents one of the few remaining examples of the grasslands, vernal pools, and playas that once bordered historic Tulare Lake, the largest lake west of the Great Lakes until the late 19th century.
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