2021 Update For FIF Donors

Tuesday May 18, 2021 Friends of the Island Fox Board members participated in the annual Island Fox Conservation Working Group meeting (via a virtual space hosted by the Santa Barbara Zoo).

We thought we'd try something new and share the FIF Update with you so you could see exactly where your donations have gone this past fiscal year and where we are focusing our efforts right now.

 

We can't say it enough "Radio collars, radio collars, radio collars!" This season's radio collars and vaccinations will be shipping out in the next few weeks, along with the bill. 

Your donations help fund these vital efforts to protect island foxes.

Biologists, researchers and pathologists from across the Channel Islands also reported on island fox status and health. 

The news is good and FIF will post a summary of the Working Group Meeting next week.

You Can Help Island Foxes with Radio Collars

These island fox radio collars have gone to the shop to be refurbished. They have been chewed on, rubbed on rocks, and used as teething bars by island fox pups. But, with your help these collars can be repaired and used to help island foxes, again.

Radio-tracking collars protect whole islands of island foxes.

Radio-tracking collars can also be used for specific situations:

• helping to reunite a lost pup with its parents
• following an island fox rehabilitating from wildfire injuries
• monitoring an island fox recovering from a serious injury

Which foxes wear radio-tracking collars?
 
Soon the radio collars above will be renewed and ready for the field. Before they can start making a difference, Friends of the Island Fox needs to pay for them. 

Refurbishing these 20 radio collars costs over $4,000

Your donation can help put these radio collars back on a wild island fox. 

Please DONATE TODAY 

to help monitor island foxes all year long.

Fox Foto Friday - Spot An Island Fox?

Island foxes are rare creatures, yet sometimes they show up in unexpected places!

Take a second look, this island fox is on the calf of a devoted island fox supporter. It even has accurate island fox tracks. Tracking An Island Fox

We love art with island foxes. Check out:

island fox sculpture and carving 
Island Fox and the Art of an Ecosystem - graphite
student art project - felt
student collage and conservation projects

How will you show your support for island foxes?

Island Foxes and Earth Day Events 2018

Earth Day is a great time to celebrate the success of island fox conservation and recommit to helping island foxes.

You can connect with Friends of the Island Fox at two Earth Day events.

Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival

April 21 & 22, 2018

Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM & Sunday 11 AM - 6 PM

Friends of the Island Fox and Channel Islands Restoration will be at Alameda Park in Santa Barbara to celebrate at the Earth Day Festival (maps & info). 

Join in a science investigation activity to discover what the island foxes have been eating. 

Learn about the connection between island foxes and native plants. 

FIF will be showcasing our NEW Friends of the Island Fox t-shirts! All sales help island fox conservation.

 

Fresno Chaffee Zoo Party for the Planet 2018

Friday April 20

9 AM - 1 PM

Get "hands-on" with the Health Check Fox

Fresno Chaffee Zoo has long been a supporter of Friends of the Island Fox and island fox recovery. Zoo volunteers will host FIF's Health Check Fox. 

This unique education tool lets you try your hand at a health check for an island fox. You can check the teeth, examine the ear with an otoscope, check the body for injuries, and take blood samples, just like the biologists do in the field.

FIF is celebrating the support of the Fresno community for island fox conservation. Fresno Chaffee Zoo's five year grant of $10,000 from 2013-2018 funded:

• blood testing for introduced disease in 2013 & 2016
• new island fox capture cages for annual health checks in 2013-2014
• blood testing to determine the effectiveness of a new distemper virus vaccine in 2015
• 10 radio tracking collar 2017-2018 

Join in the celebration. More details on the Party for the Planet

Support Fresno Chaffee Zoo's conservation efforts around the world and here in California for the island fox.

FIF Trip to Santa Cruz Island!

Join Friends of the Island Fox for:

photo courtesy of Jay Dyer

A Trip to Prisoner's Harbor

Santa Cruz Island

Saturday, April 6, 2013

SOLD OUT - (as of 3/7/13)

Michael Lawshe for FIF

That's right, this spring FIF educators are leading a day-long adventure to look for both the island fox AND the island scrub-jay.

As the population of Santa Cruz Island foxes reaches recovery it is possible to observe them at more locations across the island. Santa Cruz is also the only home of the rare island scrub-jay. With its newly restored wetland area, Prisoner's Harbor is one of the prime locations to encounter this unique bird as well as many other species. Wetland on a dry island.

On the trip over to Prisoner's Harbor (about 1 and a half hours) there is the possibility of seeing many marine species as well. 

bottlenose dolphin with calf

Biodiversity at Prisoner's Harbor
 
Tickets will be $65.00 per person. A percentage of the fee will go to support island fox recovery efforts. 

We will take the Island Packers boat from Ventura Harbor leaving at 8.00 AM and returning around 5 PM on Saturday April 6, 2013.  Check in will be required at 7:15 AM.

Reservations are limited and will be provided on a first come basis. To book reservations, please download the Reservation Booking Form (Click Here to download pdf)
SOLD OUT - (as of 3/7/13)

Send the completed form with your check, made payable to the "Friends of the Island Fox" to the address on the form.  Reservations will be taken in the order received, and no reservations can be accepted without payment.

At the time of booking you will receive further details of the trip, including: where to meet, what to pack, the suggested clothing and other items of interest. Note the photo to the right. Food items will need to be secured at all times. What to remember when visiting the island fox. 
 

GO FOXES!

The endangered Channel Island fox has new friends! 

Over a thousand miles away from the California coast, in Fort Collins, Colorado, the Foxes Baseball Club is rallying behind the island fox. On June 10, 2012 the Foxes will pitch-in for the endangered island fox by raising funds to benefit Channel Island fox conservation. For more on their special drawing.

The Foxes are part of the summer Mountain Collegiate Baseball League and their logo shares a common interest with Friends of the Island Fox–FOXES!  

Through June 10th, the baseball club is also donating 15% of the Internet proceeds from baseball cap sales to support Friends of the Island Fox. Visit the Fort Collins Foxes website and see if there is a fox cap for you.

If you're in the Fort Collins, Colorado vicinity check out:

Fort Collins Foxes vs Casper Cutthroats 

6:15 PM Sunday, June 10 

...and cheer on the team to a home run for island foxes.