Predators and Prey in the Channel Islands

摘要: ) and could drive them to extinction ifmitigating measures are not taken. But in fact,some of the underlying factors this modeldo represent actual conditions.Eagles protected under Bald andGolden Eagle Protection Act theEndangered Species Act. In March,the fox subspecies on each ofthe northern Channel Islandswere listed as endangered,and preventfox ulti-mately provide forrecovery being taken.Between 1999 2002,foxes were captured andbrought into captivity allthree ChannelIslands, be held until threatfrom eagles is further reducedor eliminated, toincrease wild popula-tions through captivebreeding release. Aworking group 90professionals advisesthe recovery effort.Since 1999, 35 goldeneagles have beencaptured relocated tonorthern California.Despite employment themost effective known goldeneagle capture techniques, someeagles evade continue tobreed prey foxes.Running a captive breeding program onthree island locations without its ownrisks, particularly from disease, loss geneticvariation, changes behavior. For thosereasons, learn more about efficacyof restoration face novel predator,foxes released facili-ties Santa Cruz Rosa Islandsstarting December 2003. On Cruz,five nine foxes killed bygolden eagles, remaining four werereturned captivity. Rosa, one died eagle predation,seven remain wild, pair thereleased has produced two pups.Captive-bred seem much suscep-tible predation. contrast, annualsurvivorship onSanta was 80% 2003, determinedby radiotelemetry.Even with high population pigspresent, fromcaptivity experienced predation rate,suggesting that they preferred foodfor some or accessible food insome areas. Moreover, removal pigson necessary for ofnine endangered threatened plants. Baldeagles (