Virtual Program: How Microbes Influence Island Fox Health and Understanding Island Spotted Skunks

 Join Friends of the Island Fox for a virtual

"Date with a Fox"

Tuesday, January 31 at 6:30–7:30 pm (Pacific Time)

on Zoom

Hear directly from researchers investigating island fox health and biologists working in the field on the Channel Islands.

Jasmine Lu became acquainted with Channel Island foxes while working on her senior thesis at Princeton under the guidance of Alexandra DeCandia, Ph.D. Their work investigated how mite infection can destabilize the microbial community structure in the ear canals of Santa Catalina Island foxes. Their findings have recently been published in the journal Molecular Ecology. Lu will explain their discoveries; she says "It's exciting to be able to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on this fox population!"

 

 

Lara Brenner is a FIF Board Member, island biologist for the Nature Conservancy, and member of the Island Spotted Skunk Conservation Working Group. Island spotted skunks co-exist with island foxes on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, but little is known about these tiny predators. As island foxes have recovered, how have island spotted skunks been affected? What are we learning about the relationship between these two endemic predators and what more needs to be investigated? Brenner will provide an update on island spotted skunks.

It should be a fascinating evening. We hope you will join us for this free virtual event. Reservations are required.

Watch The Recorded Program

More on FIF and island spotted skunks

Videos of past "Date with a Fox" programs are available here.

Friends of the Island Fox Presentation for CIC Speaker Series

When island foxes on four islands became threatened with extinction 22 years ago, little was known about their natural history. 

 

Join Friends of the Island Fox 

 

President Mike Watling and 

Ed. Director Keri Dearborn 

 

on Friday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 pm PT

 

for 

 

 

Catalina Island Conservancy's  Last Friday Speaker Series

 

We'll talk about what's been learned about these charismatic little predators and the important role they play in the island ecosystem as a keystone species. We'll touch on the conservation measures over the past two decades and the current research that is illuminating island fox diet, interaction with other species, and how dramatic population decline may have unexpected impacts on longterm island fox health. 

 

Register for this free Virtual Event at: Catalina Island Conservancy

 

We hope to see you there