Playful Pup of Endangered Island Fox Caught on Video

The once nearly extinct Island Fox is making a comeback to become “nearly recovered.” In a sight that would have been rare 15 years ago, a group of Channel Islands National Park rangers were able to capture video of a curious pup wandering around the ranger station on San Miguel Island (video below).

In 2000, the Island Fox population stood at less than 100 foxes on San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz islands. The decline was attributed to predation by golden eagles. It was around that same year that Channel Islands National Park began an Island Fox recovery program that included captive breeding, removal of resident golden eagles, and the re-establishment of bald eagles, the golden eagle’s natural competitor.

The Island Fox remains listed as an endangered species, but with the population nearly recovered on all islands that it calls home, more park rangers are seeing these beautiful creatures freely roaming around. To learn more facts and information about the Island Fox, visit www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/fox-status.htm

Watch this great footage of an Island Fox pup, and what it appears to be its mother, recorded by San Miguel Island park rangers, below:

VIDEO: Island Fox Pup Wandering at Ranger Station