Resource use overlap between urban carnivores: Implications for endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica)

Abstract

An urban population of Endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) has persisted in the city of Bakersfield, (Kern County, California), for several decades. Urban kit foxes may play an important role in future range wide recovery efforts for the species. As such, a comprehensive understanding of the issues that can influence the long-term survival of this population is essential for the development of effective management strategies. Although urban kit foxes have been studied extensively in Bakersfield, interactions between kit foxes and other urban carnivore species are poorly understood. Urban environments can provide a number of opportunities for species to interact in ways not usually observed in natural habitats. Interactions between urban populations of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and kit foxes were investigated at denning locations and cat feeding stations on the California State University-Bakersfield campus, California, USA. A total of 130 individual denning sites were identified, of which 39 (30%) were used by both species. Simultaneous den use by foxes and skunks was recorded on four occasions. Inter and intra-specific aggression was recorded at cat feeding stations on ten separate occasions including three incidences of aggression towards kit foxes by skunks and feral cats (Felis catus). Telemetry data and cat feeding station observations clearly show that interspecific contact does occur in urban environments.