| ISLAND FOX MONITORING AND DEMOGRAPHY ON SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND |
| Jesse M. Maestas; Institute for Wildlife Studies; Maestas@iws.org; Glen R. Enzfelder, Calypso N. Gagorik, David A. Green, Melissa A. Booker, David K. Garcelon, Andrew S. Bridges |
| The island fox (Urocyon littoralis) is endemic to the California Channel Islands and the San Clemente Island subspecies is the focus of a long-term conservation program funded and overseen by the U.S. Navy. This program currently includes annual monitoring of fox demography, survival, and disease prevalence. Demographic data are gathered from 12 18-trap grids stratified by habitat type throughout the island. We maintain a radio-collared population of up to 100 individuals to serve as disease sentinels and to gather known-fate survival data. Data suggest a growing population, which reached its highest recorded level in 2014 with an estimate of 1,230 adults. Known-fate survival analysis suggested a high adult survival rate of 95%. Despite several years of drought conditions, the SCI fox population appears healthy, and has grown steadily (186%) over the past 8 years. |
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