San Joaquin Kit Fox
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There are several threats to the vital San Joaquin Kit Fox species, some major ones including predation and competition from larger species such as the non-native red fox, and loss of habitat due to farming and city development by humans.
Predation and competition from larger species can be extremely threatening to the Kit Foxes. Larger species, such as the non-native red fox, often prey on the same animals for food as this fox. This poor creature is not only being deprived of their land but also of their food due to species like the red fox. They commonly will get the food needed for them before the Kit Fox does, because of this, the population of the Kit Fox can decrease due to lacking of needed nutrients.
The Kit Fox Fights for Survival
Kit Fox Loses Battle to Survive When Buildings are Built on Their Grasslands
Finally, a threat for the San Joaquin Kit Fox is the loss of habitat due to farming and urbanization. Humanizing the local habitat of the Kit Fox is the main reason for this species endangerment. This species lives in one place, the San Joaquin Valley of California. This area is being demolished to build industries and urbanize the area. About 60% of the land in the San Joaquin Valley has been used to urbanize the area (Thompson, 2009), this leaves only about 40% of land untouched for native creatures like the Kit Fox. This creature does not have the ability to migrate or travel as a pack, meaning they stay in the one habitat they are in, and do not leave no matter the circumstances. We as humans have control over what is being done in local environments, we can stand up against big companies and people who are determined to urbanize an area and save helpless creatures like the Kit Fox that claimed this land long before we did.
Drought Leads to Less Kit Foxes
Big problems seen is the destruction and fragmentation of the Kit Foxes habitat, decrease in their main food source, and lower numbers, due to the drought California has been facing in the past years. With more rainfall this means more Kit Foxes. California had been suffering from a drought until just this year when we had a huge rainy season brought by El Nino (McPhate. M, 2017). This drought had to do with the issue, that some choose to not believe in, climate change (Climate change evidence: How do we know?). Climate change has been a topic talked among scientists for years. The increase recent increase climate change has to do with the burning of fossil fuels, by driving cars, flying planes and heating and cooling houses or work spaces. Fossil fuels are the most important part of the United States economy by producing over 80% of the energy for the U.S (Fossil Fuels). As a result of the high demand of fossil fuels mining for oil happens all over the country and in the San Joaquin Valley, home of the foxes. The denial of climate change from so many people had slowed the process of helping lower the impact humans have on the planet and prolonged the drought in California.
Another problem is the habitat of the small helpless foxes’ are threatened by the increase in residential housing construction, agriculture practice, construction of roads and mining for oil (California Farming Regions). These little, cute foxes are constantly competing with humans, the top predators in the food chain for a place to live.
Nonnative Red Fox
Agricultural Fields in the San Joaquin Valley
Drought Effects in the San Joaquin Valley