Photo of The Island Fox
Hi. The Island Fox is a diminutive and docile fox unique to California’s Channel Islands. In fact, they are the only carnivore unique to California. They are broken up into six subspecies, living on and named after 6 of the 8 Channel Islands.
A new study has revealed that they are unique in another incredible way: they are nearly genetically identical to one another. A lack of genetic diversity can pose serious threats to survival, yet the Island Fox population has been recovering for the last few years (though they are still listed as ‘near threatened’).
A new study has revealed that they are unique in another incredible way: they are nearly genetically identical to one another. A lack of genetic diversity can pose serious threats to survival, yet the Island Fox population has been recovering for the last few years (though they are still listed as ‘near threatened’).