Endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox Pups Thrive on CSUB Campus Amid Urban Growth

The campus of California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) has emerged as a critical urban sanctuary where the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is successfully establishing litters. Research conducted in 2025 confirmed the presence of multiple successful litters, providing empirical evidence of the subspecies' adaptation capabilities despite pervasive threats like habitat loss across the San Joaquin Valley.

The San Joaquin kit fox, which has seen its historic habitat reduced by approximately 90 percent due to agriculture, energy development, and urbanization, is now finding refuge in unexpected urban pockets such as the CSUB grounds. To advance this ecological study, Dr. Antje Lauer and her research cohort secured an $8,500 grant in 2025, jointly awarded by the National Wildlife Federation and Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom Grant Program. This funding supports a broader investigation into the kit fox population dynamics across the university grounds and the adjacent lower Kern River floodplains.

The research methodology relies on non-invasive DNA analysis derived from scat samples, a technique essential for accurately mapping the foxes' den locations and primary hunting territories. Dr. Lauer, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at CSUB, leads the initiative, which aims to formulate a comprehensive habitat conservation plan. This plan is intended for formal integration into the CSUB Master Plan and subsequent presentation to the Bakersfield City Council for adoption.

The overarching objective is to directly inform municipal planning decisions regarding future construction projects by advocating for the establishment of secure wildlife corridors. These corridors are vital for facilitating genetic exchange and connectivity between the campus population and other fragmented kit fox groups in the region. Bakersfield is a significant stronghold for the species; one estimate suggests the city hosts between 400 to 500 kit foxes, with over 30 individuals documented on the CSUB campus alone via camera traps.

This urban success contrasts with the primary driver of the species' decline since it was federally listed as Endangered in 1967. The urban population currently faces contemporary challenges, including mortality from vehicle strikes and sarcoptic mange. The work at CSUB seeks to reconcile urban expansion with species preservation, positioning the kit fox as a wildlife ambassador for conservation efforts in the San Joaquin Valley.