Carrizo Plain Triple Play

In 2013 I had the pleasure of joining the CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and the Cam Trap Codger on a mini project to set cam traps on natal dens of San Joaquin kit foxes on the Carrizo Plain.

But 2013 was a drought year in CA, and the kit fox pair only had one pup.

So, since this El Nino-ish season had reasonable rain on the Plain, we thought we'd try again.

And this time we tripled our fun: a mom, dad, and 3 pups.

Here's a sampling from the set, starting with 5 nights in late March...


Dad SJ kit fox next to the natal den


Taking a break - while he can


Pups coming out of the den to greet dad



You'll note there's a bit more green on the ground this round.

A sign of the better season. Unfortunately, much of it is non-native filaree (Erodium cicutarium). However, much like cattle, the local kangaroo rats and pocket mice, including the endangered Giant Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys ingens, like to eat filaree. And their populations do well when the filaree does well. Which benefits the kit foxes and other rodent-dependent predators.


Mom SJ kit fox dropping off 5 k-rats she brought back for the puppies

That's mom with the radio tracking collar. She's part of a broader study to understand their movements in the area. And that's 5 k-rats at her feet the pup is going after. Nicely done, mom!


Dad under tail attack


Junior explorers - "follow me!"








"Ow, ow, ow - you're so fierce and vicious…"




Puppy hide-and-seek? 

Notice how the puppies are more using their ears than their eyes to track and look for each other...

Dad attack!



Nothing cuter than scampering puppy butts.


Dad with a mouthful for the puppies

Next up: Morning w/ Mom - the 3 kit fox puppies hanging out in the morning sun with their ma.

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References: 

• Nature of a Man (this blog) - In a Family Way
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - The Terrible Twos
• Nature of a Man (this blog) - Kit Fox Family - Bonus Tracks
• Natural Areas Journal, Vol 31, 2011 - David J. Germano, Department of Biology, California State University Bakersfield  - The San Joaquin Desert of California: Ecologically Misunderstood and Overlooked
• CSU Stanislaus Endangered Species Recovery Program - San Joaquin Kit Fox
• CSU Stanislaus Endangered Species Recovery Program - Recovery Plan for San Joaquin Kit Fox

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