Restoring native Habitat for Island Foxes Part 2

What are these families doing on Santa Cruz Island?

They were part of a second trip underwritten by LUSH Cosmetics that brought Friends of the Island Fox together with Channel Islands Restoration to remove invasive oyster plant (Tragopogon) from the Channel Island fox's habitat. Our June crew consisted of families, teachers, and inspired individuals. 

We split into two groups. The main group headed up onto the hillside to cut the seed heads off this invasive plant to stop its reseeding in the fall.

The smaller group continued our work in Scorpion Canyon. 

Did we make a difference? The oyster plant was looking drier in June than it had in May but it was still producing seed heads. The dry dark stalks are the oyster plant. 

This is before.

This is after we removed the seed heads and cut down the stalks. 

It was a job well done. We removed bags of oyster plant seed heads.

Invasive plants reduce the success of native plants that provide food and shelter for island animals. An added benefit - seeing island foxes.

Thank you to our photographers: Keri Dearborn, Jessica Martin, and Bonnie Ferron.

 

Friends of the Island Fox Celebrates with LUSH Cosmetics

Come Join Friends of the Island Fox as we celebrate the unveiling of the hand and body lotion with a Channel Island fox on the lid!

Saturday, June 25, 2016

2 - 6 PM at

LUSH Fresh Made Cosmetics

Westfield Topanga Mall

6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Canoga Park

LUSH cosmetic's Charity Pot lotion raises funds for grass-roots non-profits around the world. In 2016 our grant from LUSH Charity Pot has enabled FIF to:

• Vaccinate 550 island foxes this fall against Canine Distemper Virus
• Lead Volunteer teams to Santa Cruz Island to work on Native Plant Restoration
• Provide environmental education programs to 1,600 students across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties (January-Sept 2016)

The Topanga store will have small and large Charity Pot lotions with the Channel Island fox on the lid!

Come help us thank LUSH for their support of a local endangered California species.

Join the celebration of island fox recovery and recommit your support to continue conservation efforts to keep Channel Island foxes safe and healthy into the future.