National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of Channel Islands National Park Island Views Volume 3, 2005 — 2006 Tim Hauf, www.timhaufphotography.com Foxes Returned to the Wild Full Circle In OctobeR anD nOvembeR 2004, The and November 2004, an additional 13 island Chumash Cross Channel in Tomol to Santa Cruz Island National Park Service (NPS) released 23 foxes on Santa Rosa and 10 on San Miguel By Roberta R. Cordero endangered island foxes to the wild from were released to the wild. The foxes will be Member and co-founder of the Chumash Maritime Association their captive rearing facilities on Santa Rosa returned to captivity if three of the 10 on The COastal portion OF OuR InDIg- and San Miguel Islands. Channel Islands San Miguel or five of the 13 foxes on Santa enous homeland stretches from Morro National Park Superintendent Russell Gal- Rosa are killed or injured by golden eagles. Bay in the north to Malibu Point in the ipeau said, “Our primary goal is to restore Releases from captivity on Santa Cruz south, and encompasses the northern natural populations of island fox. Releasing Island will not occur this year since these Channel Islands of Tuqan, Wi’ma, Limuw, foxes to the wild will increase their long- foxes are thought to be at greater risk be- and ‘Anyapakh (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, term chances for survival.” cause they are in close proximity to golden Santa Cruz, and Anacapa). This great, For the past five years the NPS has been eagle territories. In winter 2003-2004, elongated bowl with its irregular rim of CINMS Robert Schwemmer, implementing recovery actions on Santa five of nine foxes released on Santa Cruz coastal mountain contains and nurtures 2004 Chumash Maritime Association crossing Rosa and San Miguel Islands to save the were killed by golden eagles and four were a breathtaking array of maritime habi- sustainably for some thirteen thousand island foxes, including captive breeding of returned to captivity. tats. The ancestors of the autochthonous years before European contact. foxes and removal of golden eagles. The Since 1999, 35 golden eagles have been people of the region—we are now known As for many indigenous maritime NPS and The Nature Conservancy began removed from Santa Cruz and two from as Chumash—were so well-integrated into cultures, the canoe is central to our captive breeding of island foxes on Santa Santa Rosa. Six golden eagles, three adults, and adapted to their habitats that they understanding of who we are as a people Cruz Island in 2002. and three nestlings, were removed from the were able to thrive here continuously and please see CROSSING, 12 Island foxes on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa island in 2004. Today, it is believed that less and San Miguel Isalnds have declined more than 10 remain. There have been no golden than 95% from 1994 to 2000 due to golden eagle sightings on San Miguel or Santa Rosa eagle predation, placing them on the brink for over a year. Park and Sanctuary Celebrate 25th Anniversary of extinction. This decline prompted the The foxes were released as groups of ju- Channel Islands National Park and Marine miles out around each island was desgnated U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list the island veniles and as pairs of potential mates. They Sanctuary will celebrate their 25th anniversary as a National Marine Sanctuary. The park and fox as an endangered species on March 4, were chosen for release based on genetics, during 2005. Although Anacapa and Santa sanctuary monitor and protect threatened and 2004. age, and reproductive success. All released Barbara Islands became a National Monu- endangered species, restore ecosystems, and In 2003, six foxes were successfully foxes will have radio collars, and staff biolo- ment in 1938, it was not until March 5, 1980 preserve the natural and cultural resources for released to the wild on Santa Rosa Island. gists will monitor their activity patterns, that Congress designated the four northern you and generations to enjoy. Special events Two of these released foxes bred in the dispersal, and use of habitats on the island. islands, Santa Barbara Island, and the waters will be held during 2005 to commemorate wild, producing a litter of two female pups. For more information about foxes and for one nautical mile around each as our 40th this anniversary. Please visit our website or call These were the first pups born in the wild restoration plans on Santa Cruz please see national park. Later that year, the ocean six the visitor center for more information. on Santa Rosa since 2000. During October “Restoring Santa Cruz Island” on page 9. Island Information Things to Do Focus on Resources 6 Anacapa Island 2 Visitor Centers, Programs, Transportation 4 General Management Plan 3 When To Visit, Where to Stay 5 JASON Expedition 8 Santa Cruz Island 4 Hiking, Fishing, Watersports 7 Restoring Anacapa Island 14 Santa Rosa Island 5 Parks as Classroom, Jr. Ranger Program 9 Restoring Santa Cruz Island 7 Underwater Program 12 The Island Chumash San Miguel Island 18 10 Camping, Backcountry Camping 15 The Wreck Of The J.L. Stanford 22 Santa Barbara Island 15 Connecting with the Park 16 Kelp Forests, Marine Protected Areas 19 Whale Watching, Seals and Sea Lions 17 Island Place Names 21 Boating and Kayaking 20 Limiting Your Impact 23 Tidepooling 23 Seabird Monitoring Tim Hauf 24 Volunteering 24 “Greening” the Park The endangered Channel Islands fox Welcome from the Superintendent When to Visit—Through the Year National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The park staff and I wish to welcome you Visitors often ask what time of year they to Channel Islands National Park, one of North should visit Channel Islands National Park. America’s magnificent treasures. Close to the Since the park is located in “sunny” Southern Channel Islands National Park California mainland, yet worlds apart, the California, it may seem that the obvious answer Named for the deep trough that park encompasses five of the eight California is “any time of year.” And, true, you can visit separates them from the mainland, the Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa throughout the entire year. But, believe it or islands off the California coast and their Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara) and their not, we do have seasons here in Southern Cali- encircling waters are home to plants and ocean environment, preserving and protecting fornia. While the seasonal changes are nothing animals found nowhere else on Earth. a wealth of natural and cultural resources. The like one would find in Minnesota, there are Isolation over thousands of years and the park bridges two biogeographical provinces, differences that visitors should take into consid- mingling of warm and cold ocean cur- and in a remarkably small place, harbors the eration when visiting the park. Each season has rents give rise to the rich biodiversity of biologic diversity of nearly 2,500 miles of the its own character and casts a unique mood over these islands. Today, five of the islands, North American coast. The Channel Islands the islands. their submerged lands, and the waters are home to over 2,000 terrestrial plants and In addition, visitors also should be aware within one nautical mile of each island animals, of which 145 are found nowhere else that ocean and weather conditions vary con- are protected as Channel Islands in the world. Like the Galapagos Islands of siderably from day-to-day and island-to-island. National Park. South America, isolation has allowed evolu- Although this makes planning your visit a little tion to proceed independently on the islands. difficult, we must remember that this unpre- Mailing Address Marine life ranges from microscopic plankton dictable and, at times, unforgiving weather is Park Superintendent to the blue whale, the largest animal to live on one of the main reasons that the islands have Channel Islands National Park earth. Archeological and cultural resources span been afforded so much isolation and protection 1901 Spinnaker Dr. a period of more than 10,000 years of human from the rapid changes seen on the mainland. Ventura,CA 93001 habitation. It is, in part, what makes the Channel Islands The protection of these fragile island resourc- park, you will be one of a very select group. a marked contrast to the bustle of Southern such a unique and wonderful place. Phone es was ensured when Congress, in the act that Few people actually see this park because it California most people experience. It will always We encourage you to take the opportunity to 805-658-5730 created Channel Islands National Park in 1980, is not easy to get to—you can’t drive to the be a place where you can step back in time and fully enjoy the islands throughout the entire established a long-term ecological monitor- islands. A short but exciting ocean voyage experience coastal southern California the way year. Channel Islands National Park is truly a Park Website ing program to gather information on the or a commercial flight in a small airplane is it once was. place for all seasons. www.nps.gov/chis/ current health of resources and predict future required. The park is one of the least visited of We are delighted you are interested in this Climate conditions. This information provides park and all of America’s national parks, with less than marvelous place. Thanks for making the effort! In general, the islands have a Mediterranean E-mail natural resource managers with useful products 250,000 annual visitors to the islands. The We hope our park newspaper encourages you climate year-round.