Kit fox experimental studies at the Naval Petroleum Reserves in California

The US Department of Energy's Naval Petroleum Reserves are located in southwestern Kern County, California. In 1987, the US Fish and Wildlife Service rendered a Biological Opinion which concluded that continued petroleum development on Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 1 (NPR-1) would not likely jeopardize the continued existence of endangered species on the Reserve. The Fish and Wildlife Service did express concern, however, about a decline in the number of San Joaquin kit foxes found on the Reserve since studies began in 1979. Beginning in 1988, DOE initiated some experimental studies, which were based in part on research needs and the concerns expressed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. This paper briefly reviews two studies that are in progress and a third that was recently initiated. These studies are: (1) Supplemental food study to investigate the effects of food supplies on survivorship, sources of mortality, and reproductive success; (2) Kit fox reintroduction project to develop techniques to reintroduce foxes into areas where they no longer exist; and (3) Artificial den study to evaluate the use of artificial dens by kit foxes and the effect den density has on fox survival.