Recent studies indicate that the distribution of the San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) has been reduced in the last 10 years within the northern portion of their range. The northernmost population of this species is currently believed to be in the vicinity of Bethany Reservoir in northeastern Alameda County. Data derived from monitoring eight radio-collared kit fox and from a scat analysis indicate that habitat requirements for this northern population differ from those of the southern populations. Kit fox survival in this northern area appears to be heavily dependent on the presence of ground squirrels, which provide the principal source of both food and dens for the foxes. The kit fox population in this region is thought to be extremely sparse and highly susceptible to local extinction. Factors affecting the population include cattle grazing, agricultural development, ground squirrel poisoning, competition from other canids, wind turbine development, and suburban encroachment.
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