Mainland foxes are believed to have colonized the northern Channel Islands some 16,000-20,000 years ago. It is thought that native Chumash tribes, who kept the foxes as pets, transported them to the southern islands some 10,000 years later. Over time, the island foxes developed into a distinct species, with sufficient inter-island variations to justify subspecies designation for each island. Subspecies distinctions include variations in tail length, muzzle shape, fur color and other attributes. They can live as long as 10 years, generally mate for life and give birth to litters of 2-5 pups in mid April.
Island fox have an important role as the islands largest native land mammal.
As generalists who feed on a variety of food sources, their absence would be felt at many levels within the island ecosystem. On four of the six islands where the foxes live, their populations have declined precipitously over the past five years. These include the northern islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz, as well as the southern island of Santa Catalina. The island fox is on the brink of extinction on at least two of the islands, San Miguel and Santa Rosa. Threats to the Island Fox On Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Cruz, the fox has declined due to loss of habitat and the introduction of non-native species.