Publication Date
5-15-2025
San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) are endemic to arid habitats in the San Joaquin Valley region of central California. This species is listed as Endangered due to profound habitat loss throughout its range caused by agricultural, industrial, and urban development. Interestingly, kit foxes currently occur in three cities with the population in the city of Bakersfield being large (several hundred foxes) and self-sustaining. Demographic and ecological attribute values for this population are among the highest observed in San Joaquin kit fox populations. Loss of natural habitat is still occurring and additional urban kit fox populations could contribute significantly to the conservation and recovery of this species. However, other cities in the San Joaquin Valley that might be suitable for kit foxes are disconnected from occupied kit fox habitat by incompatible land uses, primarily agriculture. Kit foxes could be translocated to other cities and the Bakersfield population would be an excellent source population as surplus animals are available and these individuals are already adapted to urban environments. However, a number of biological, legal, and social issues would make any translocation effort challenging. Another strategy would be to strategically remove agricultural lands from production such that corridors are created between occupied habitat and suitable urban areas. Urban populations contributed significantly to the recovery and delisting of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and the same may be possible for San Joaquin kit foxes.
Recommended Citation
Cypher, Brian L.; Kelly, Erica C.; and Rudd, Jaime L.
(2025)
"Advancing Recovery of Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes Through Urban Rewilding,"
Cities and the Environment (CATE):
Vol. 18:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.15365/cate.2025.180103
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cate/vol18/iss1/3
DOI
10.15365/cate.2025.180103
