Biology, Policy and Law in Endangered Species Conservation: I. The Case History of the Island Fox on the Northern Channel Islands

C. Josh Donlan Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Ithaca, New York 14853-2701 and Island Conservation University of California Long Marine Laboratories Santa Cruz, California 95060 Abstract Endangered species recovery often requires strategies that are risky, contentious, and difficult to implement. These qualities can lead to recovery actions that result from human dimensions of endangered species conservation instead of biological extent. Here we discuss the recovery actions implemented by the National Park Service in conserving three subspecies of the critically endangered island fox, Urocyon littoralis. We present an overview of how these subspecies became endangered, chronicle the existing and future threats to their persistence, and summarize the actions implemented and needed to save the fox from extinction. Similar to other endangered species programs, this recovery program suffers from a bureaucracy that prevents timely implementation of recovery actions and that is risk averse in its strategies to save the fox. Consequently, even though a wealth of biological information now exists on this species and the threats to its existence are well known, necessary recovery actions are being delayed. Bold, aggressive, and controversial actions are likely to be requisites to save the island fox from extinction.