In the 1850s, pigs brought to Santa Cruz Island became feral; golden eagles drawn by piglets helped drive foxes down 95%, then 5,036 pigs were removed as foxes rebounded to 1,300+
An ambitious conservation project off the coast of California has helped save the endangered Santa Cruz Island fox from near extinction. The rescue effort involved removing 5,036 feral pigs, allowing the native island fox (Urocyon littoralis santacruzae) population to recover from fewer than 100 animals to more than 1,300 across the 96-square-mile island. According to … Read more
