rsg_book_2013

MammalsAn investigation into the effect of individualpersonality on re-introduction success, examplesfrom three North American fox species: swift fox,California Channel Island fox and San Joaquin kitfoxSamantha Bremner-Harrison 1,2 , Brian L. Cypher 2 & Stephen W.R. Harrison 1,21 - School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham TrentUniversity, Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, England, UKSamantha.bremnerharrison@ntu.ac.uk, Stephen.harrison@ntu.ac.uk2 - California State University – Stanislaus, Endangered Species Recovery Program,PO Box 9622, Bakersfield, California 93389, USA, bcypher@esrp.orgIntroductionSwift fox (Vulpes velox) and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) aresmall, den-dwelling foxes found in North American arid grassland habitats. TheCatalina Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) is endemic to Catalinaisland. Swift fox (SWF) are listed by the IUCN as Least Concern, but listed inCanada as Threatened (COSEWIC, 2009) and as a Category One species underthe US Endangered Species Act (USFWS, 2001). The kit fox is listed as LeastConcern, however the sub-species San Joaquin kit fox (SJKF) is listed asEndangered under the US Endangered Species Act (USFWS, 1998). TheCatalina Channel Island fox (CCIF) is listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN,2008). Decline of the species’ were associated to anthropogenic factors. Extremehabitat loss caused a loss of >90% the historic range of both SWF and SJKF, withdecline also attributed to non-target predator control, whilst CCIF numberscrashed due to anoutbreak of distemper. Asa result, there have beenon-going recovery effortsfor each species,incorporating captivebreeding and reintroduction(SWF andCCIF), habitat restoration(SWF, SJKF and CCIF)and re-introductionfeasibility planning (SJKF).San Joaquin kit fox152