Fox Foto Friday - Island Fox School Project

An island fox, its habitat, diet, behavior and life story.

This wonderful school project was created by a 3rd grade student at Opal Robinson Elementary School in Manhattan Beach.

FIF school presentations will be available on a limited basis beginning in March 2018. 

Teachers - island foxes are a real world entry into math, history, science and ecology. Check out island fox school activities K-12. 

Teacher Workshop with FIF and NatureBridge

 
Calling All Teachers!


The successful recovery of the endangered island fox is a positive story of people making a difference in the local environment. It is a story of interconnected species, cause and affect, scientific data, adaptations and genetic diversity.

Friends of the Island Fox is thrilled to team up with:



to offer a Teacher Professional Development workshop:

“Bridging Science and the Classroom”

The Nature of the Island Fox
Saturday, March 2, 2013

 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Register for a fun-filled day of seeing and doing, including:

• Ready-to-use resources for the classroom
• Indoor and outdoor activities and lesson plans
• Exploration of environmental education pedagogies
• Presentation on NatureBridge and Friends of the Island Fox programming
• Light breakfast and Lunch provided
• Waived admission to the Santa Barbara Zoo

Cost: $15  (proceeds benefit island fox conservation)
Spaces are limited and preregistration is required. 
Go To NatureBridge to Register

 

NatureBridge is a nationally recognized leader, providing environmental education to 1 million K-12 youth and teachers since 1971. As a BONUS all participants will receive special discounts on future NatureBridge programs.

Have Questions? Contact:
Pat Meyer, Friends of the Island Fox, at (805) 228-4123 or  pat@islandfox.org
 
Meg Jakubowski, NatureBridge, at  (818) 914-7660 ext 401 or mjakubowski@naturebridge.org    

Join FIF on a trip to see island foxes in the wild.

Ask About the Island Fox

Friends of the Island Fox offers FREE programs about the endangered island fox and the Channel Island ecosystem to school children from 3rd grade through college. Depending on participant age and group size, programs include interactive program, video of an island fox release, radio-collar tracking demonstration and hands-on materials.

More on Island Fox Ambassador Program

To schedule a classroom visit or speaker, contact us at islandfoxnews@gmail.com

As we all go Back to School, here are a few questions we have received from students.

1. How long do island foxes live?

Island foxes typically live eight to ten years in the wild. While they are not considered to be adults until age two, in some cases they do form mate pairs and have their first family before they are a year old. When wild foxes are examined by biologists, the wear and condition of the island fox’s teeth help the biologist determine the animal’s age.

More on Island Fox Health Checks

2. Can an island fox hurt a person?

The island fox is a very small member of the dog family. Their average weight is only 5 pounds and they stand just over a foot tall. They do have sharp, pointed teeth for eating insects and hunting mice and birds, but an island fox is more likely to run from people than to threaten them. An island fox will try to protect its home territory from other foxes. Some foxes have scars from territory struggles with other foxes. Island foxes sometimes bark at intruders. See the Video of a barking island fox.


3. Can an island fox handle the snow in the winter?


It rarely snows on the California Channel Islands in the winter. The ocean that surrounds the islands helps to keep the weather mild. However, it can be cold, foggy and very windy on the Channel Islands at times. Being small helps the island fox stay out of the wind and their fur is short and thick to help keep them warm. In the fog, this island fox pup's gray coat helps it blend in against the dry summer plants and the island rocks.

Do you have a question about the California Channel Island fox?

Send your questions to islandfoxnews@gmail.com