Sly as a Fox

Channel Islands National Park

As the e-tour continues to head west, we leave the "sky islands" of Southern Arizona for the Channel Islands off the coast of California. This epic series of islands, designated a National Park in 1980, hosts a variety of endemic and fascinating species. As volcanic islands isolated from the mainland, these ecosystems have evolved in such a fashion where unique plants and animals can thrive without heavy competition. One example is the island fox, a distinct fox species that only grows to 12 to 15 inches in height. Although no larger than a house cat, the island fox is the largest mammal in the island chain. Without any predators on the island, this fox has ended up quite curious.

The endemic island fox

The fox box!

Because the island fox is such a curious fellow, these animals have learned to find the campgrounds and picnic areas on the islands. Learning from experience by finding food left unattended by visitors, many of the foxes have become habituated and often directly approach humans on the islands seeking food. Some really clever foxes have even learned to nudge open tent zippers in search of food! The National Park is making a strong effort to help island foxes and visitors alike. The picnic areas and campgrounds on the islands do not have any trash cans, meaning that backcountry users and frontcountry day-visitors alike must pack out what they pack in. All the picnic tables and campsites are also equipped with food lockers to store any and all temptations through the foxes. By practicing Leave No Trace techniques regarding food repackaging, storage, and disposal, visitors to these islands can help protect one of the incredible animal species that make them such a special place!

Like a Fox on the Run,

Quinn & Frank

Approaching Wildlife

Thanks to all those who participated in this week's poll: What should you do when you see wildlife approaching your campsite?

Possible answers were:

1. Put food on the ground to feed the animal.

2. Make lots of noise to scare the animal away.

3. Be quite and try not to startle the animal.

4. Sneak up close to the animal to get a good look. 

The correct answer is: Be quiet and try not to startle the animal. 

Encounters with wildlife inspire tall tales and long moments of wonder. Unfortunately, wildlife around the world faces threats from loss and fragmentation of habitat, invasive species, pollution, over-exploitation, poaching and disease. Protected lands offer a last refuge from some, but not all, of these problems. Consequently, wild animals need recreationists who will promote their survival rather than add to the difficulties they already face.

We know that animals respond to people in different ways. Some species adapt readily to humans in their domain, resume their normal behaviors and are said to be “habituated.” Other animals flee from humans, abandoning their young or critical habitat. Still others are attracted and endangered by human food and trash.

Because outdoor recreation is dispersed over large areas and at all times of the year, its impacts on wildlife can be equally extensive. Fish, birds, and reptiles, as well as mammals, are affected by people using their habitats. We are responsible for coexisting peacefully with wildlife.

Always watch or photograph animals from a safe distance to avoid startling them or forcing them to flee. Do not follow or approach them. If you’re hunting, know your game and take only safe, clean shots.

Use the observation areas, platforms and trails provided in many areas, and bring binoculars, spotting scopes, and telephoto lenses to watch wildlife. Back away if animals react to your presence. To leave the area, move away from the animal even if you must detour from your intended travel direction. You have more options in your movements than animals do. Treat them generously.

 Avoid quick movements and direct eye contact, which may be interpreted as aggression. Don’t disturb wildlife (i.e. by shouting to get their attention) to get a better photo. If animals are on the move, stay out of their line of travel. Travel quietly except in bear or mountain lion country. Don’t hike at night where nocturnal predators may present a hazard to safety.

Adult behaviors influence the relationship of children to the natural world. Show respect and restraint by teaching children not to approach, pet or feed wild animals. Always keep children in immediate sight. They’re often the same size as animal prey. Don’t encircle or crowd wildlife, tease or attempt to pick up a wild animal. Young animals, removed or touched by well-meaning people, may be abandoned by their parents. If you find an animal in trouble, notify a game warden.

Keep Wildlife Wild

Sometimes wildlife get a little too close for comfort...

Poll Answer: Dirty Dishwater

Thanks to everyone who participated in our most recent poll:

What is the best way to dispose of dirty dishwater while camping?

Over 80% of the participants chose "B: Strain Out Particles and Scatter the Dishwater", which was the correct answer! In our last poll we discussed wildlife habituation, one of the causes being access to human food.

Even the little bits of pasta left in dishwater can be enough to attract wildlife, so straining out those particles (and treating them as trash you'd pack out) is the best practice. You can be creative about straining too; an actual strainer is great, but pantyhose, bandanas and socks have been known to do the trick as well.

Scattering is important because of the element of dispersal. The left over water is sure to carry some food smells, so dispersing it is preferred, as opposed to concentrating it in one place.

A number of poll participants chose A: "Use it to put out your campfire." While the intention is great (always make sure to put out your campfire), again, the concentration of all those food smells in the middle of a campsite will attract wildlife, which starts that process of habituation.

Thanks again for following our blog poll! Stay tuned for another question in the coming weeks.

Poll Answer: Wildlife Behavior

A visitor uses a zoom lens to view a coyote from a safe distance.


Thanks to everyone who participated in this last Leave No Trace Poll! The question was:

"Of the learned responses that wildlife may exhibit around visitors, which is the least desirable?"

Answer choices included:
A. Avoidance
B. Attraction
C. Indifference
D. Fear

This was a tricky question and though many respondents choice "B" (Attraction) the correct answer was "C" (Indifference). Indifference is a result of wildlife habituation. Habituation, by definition, is the point when an animal stops responding to a stimulus, in this case, humans.

Habituation is a process of learning; an animal is exposed to a stimulus for a long enough period of time (again, humans) that it becomes indifferent to it. Habituation has many different levels, the most profound being a change to the animal's nervous system, by which the signals to the brain activating the "fight or flight" response stop functioning.

Thought attraction is not a desirable, indifference is the least desirable behavior because "fight or flight" is a survival technique for all animals.

The good news is, humans can be proactive in decreasing the possibility of wildlife habituation!

Respect Wildlife: Maintaining a safe distance from animals, not feeding them, making sure to pack out trash and being smart about camping/picnicking spots are several ways that we can enjoy wildlife in their natural habitat without compromising their safety or our own.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns; stay tuned for another poll in the coming weeks!