Island Foxes (Urocyon littoralis) inhabit the California Channel Islands. Over the course of the last 150 years or so, the ecology of each island has changed substantially, leading to different outcomes for different fox populations. The fox above is from Santa Cruz Island, where the population is currently healthy, although the foxes there are famous for some odd behaviors! They’re relatively undisturbed by the many human visitors they receive, and these visitors have allowed foxes to develop the bad habit of pilfering human food! Rangers are currently working with visitors to reduce yummy temptations and shift the foxes back to their proper diet and foraging behaviors.

[Photo and Caption by Ian Ramshorn Haliburton]

Reference: Friends of the Island Fox – Visiting the Island Fox

[Edited by Ian Ramshorn Haliburton]