In the good news department, I saw three Santa Cruz Island Foxes this weekend

Apparently trapping and releasing Golden Eagles (which were preying on the foxes) away from the islands, reintroducing Bald Eagles, eradicating feral pigs, and the captive breeding program have been effective, and fox numbers have begun to rebound.

They are too cute... it was almost dark when we saw them, and they looked like large gray squirrels. They were playing on a downed log near the campground.

http://www.nps.gov/chis/naturescience/island-fox.htm

Channel island foxes are cool!

Island night lizards (Xantusia riversiana) are an endemic Channel Islands reptile, known only to occur on Santa Barbara Island in the park and on San Nicolas and San Clemente Islands. They are the most morphologically distinct of the endemic vertebrates on the Channel Islands, indicating they have been isolated from the mainland for a long time. The best habitats for the lizards are boxthorn (Lycium californicum), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia oricola and O. littoralis), and cracks and crevices in and around rock outcrops and surface boulders. These areas provide protection from predators. They are also often found under rocks, driftwood, and fallen branches. Suitable habitat on Santa Barbara is in all of the canyons and on some of the sea cliffs, especially on the south side of Signal Peak. Island night lizards are very sedentary and have very small home ranges, averaging about 183 square feet (17 square meters). They are most active at midday.

Good news, indeed!

it wasn't an Island Fox. :P

;-)

Foxes are cool. :)

;-)

I love the channel islands. I hated the idea of the pigs getting exterminated, but in the long run it will be for the best.

Of non-native feral animals that destroy eco-systems and push native species to extinction being killed?

. . . they are living beings that wanted to live.