What's in these vitals?
 |
| courtesy L. Brenner, TNC |
Island fox blood samples going back decades.
During annual health check-ups, samples are taken of island fox blood. Blood samples can be used to screen for increased antibodies to a specific virus, to check for toxins, or to provide genetic information.
These island fox blood samples from Santa Cruz Island are currently being archived and prepared for long-term cryogenic storage at the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB) at the University of New Mexico.
For years, island fox samples have been housed in freezers spread across counties and agencies. While a collection of samples were stored at the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, samples from different islands have been stashed in a variety of locations with ever-changing safety measures or lack there of. The value of these specimens to science is degraded if they experience unreliable freezing, are not accessible, or are misplaced.
In 2023, FIF worked with the Dept. of Defense and the U.S. Navy to move some specimens from San Nicolas Island foxes to the Museum of Southwestern Biology (MSB), one of the largest and most advanced centers for archiving mammal specimens.
At the end of 2024, FIF assisted The Nature Conservancy with sending historic island fox blood samples from Santa Cruz Island to the MSB. The last group arrived in New Mexico March 26, 2025.
FIF's goal is to have scientific samples from all six islands archived, protected, and available to future researchers.
Island foxes on San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands have been through a historic genetic bottleneck; one that most geneticists considered impossible to recover from. Yet today, island foxes persevere. Island foxes can teach us about evolution, adaptation, and species sustainability. The information in this living library will provide future researchers with access to invaluable data.
Donations to FIF help support important island fox research
Apply for FIF's 2025 Research Grant
Genetic research currently supported by Friends of the Island Fox:
