SARCOPTIC MANGE IN URBAN SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOXES: STATUS, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

Brian Cypher; CSU-Stanislaus, Endangered Species Recovery Program; bcypher@esrp.csustan.edu; Tory Westall, Jaime Rudd, Donanld Richardson, Erica Kelly, Janey Foley, Leslie Woods, Diego Montecino, Deana Clifford

Sarcoptic mange was confirmed in an urban population of San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) inhabiting Bakersfield, CA in March 2013. Since then, over 100 cases of kit fox mange have been detected and the disease has been fatal without intervention. At least 39 foxes are known to have died from mange and the number is likely much higher. With funding from the Morris Animal Foundation, we conducted camera surveys throughout Bakersfield to locate foxes with mange and identify epidemiological foci. During summer 2015, 105 camera stations were established in 1-km sq grid cells and operated for 7 nights. Kit foxes were detected in 69 (66%) cells and foxes with mange were detected in 9 (9%) cells. As with opportunistic detections, attempts were made to trap and treat affected animals. While survey results indicated that mange is now widespread in the Bakersfield population, we foxes in many parts of the city that are not yet infected. Future actions include continuing to trap and treat foxes as they are detected, testing the efficacy of protecting foxes with Seresto acaricidal collars, and exploring strategies for treating earthen dens where the majority of transmissions may be occurring.

Wildlife Health and Disease Ecology