Even with its tiny body and humongous ears, San Joaquin kit foxes are, nevertheless, intriguing animals. Inhabiting the San Joaquin Valley in Central California, these kit foxes were very common before the twentieth century. However, over the last 85 years, their population has declined 33%, classifying them as endangered species.
To begin, San Joaquin kit foxes have unique physical features and habits. They are no larger than the average housecat and have enormous ears, which help them radiate heat through network of blood vessels. Their fur is tan in the summer, but turns silver in the winter. The name “kit fox” derives from their small size – kit means baby foxes. To add, San Joaquin kit foxes live in an arid environment with many grasslands and shrubs. They originated from the San Joaquin Valley in Central California, but now, most of the population lives in the Carrizo Plains. Their area has many industrial developments, including oil and gas industries. Since the mid 20th century, their population declined to less than 7,000 foxes.…show more content… Some are rodents, birds, lizards, hares, and insects. Fascinatingly, they do not need much water because their prey provides enough liquid for their bodies. Additionally, they have distinctive habits. To begin, they live in dens. San Joaquin kit foxes live in underground dens to keep cool, hide from predators, and take care of babies. They often change dens to hide from coyotes. They are also nocturnal, meaning that they are mostly active during the night. Furthermore, San Joaquin kit foxes reproduce in the winter, or December to March. Their gestation is a little over a month, precisely 50 days. Their litter size is about 3 to 5 kits. Additionally, kits stay with their families until they are mature enough to hunt themselves, which takes about 4 to 5
