Photo by National Park Service Photos
Photo: The Channel Island fox is an endangered specie.

Santa Cruz Island species cleansing has claimed the lives of over 1,000+ feral pigs
With more than 1,000 feral pigs dead, Santa Cruz Island is one step closer to a fox friendly ecosystem, according to Yvonne Menard of the National Park Service. Predation by non-native golden eagles, beginning in the mid ‘90s, resulted in a dramatic decline in the fox population and led to the island fox’s 2004 placement on the Federal Endangered Species List.

The unwary foxes supplement the eagles’ diet, but the golden eagles’ arrival on the island and ability to successfully remain on the island is attributed to the presence of the 3,000 to 5,000 feral pigs. The pigs act as a monkey wrench in the island’s natural food chain, impacting the 96-square mile island.

“The problem facing us today is that we have 10 species teetering on the brink of extinction,” said Lotus Vermeer, director of The Nature Conservancy’s Santa Cruz Island Preserve. The eradication of pigs is one component of the Park Service’s multifaceted program designed to restore Santa Cruz Island to its natural state and save the critically endangered species before they’re lost forever.

“We don’t want to stay in the catch up zone… We want to get into the preventative mode,” said Russell Galipeau, Channel Islands National Park superintendent.

The war against the pigs began in early April with the arrival of ProHunt, a New Zealand company specializing in the eradication of invasive species. According to ProHunt owner Norm MacDonald, 70 percent of the pigs will be caught in a baited trap and shot. The remaining 30 percent, will be shot from a helicopter or tracked by dogs and then shot. The two-year program’s $5 million cost is shared by The Nature Conservancy, which owns 76 percent of the island, and the Park Service, which owns the remaining 24 percent.

The pigs, which were introduced to the island by European settlers in the mid 1800s, have negatively impacted the island in a number of ways. A large percentage of the island’s native vegetation has been rooted up by pigs, causing massive erosion, spreading invasive weeds and damaging ancient Chumash archeological sites.

By supporting the golden eagle population, the pigs not only contribute to the struggling foxes, but also inhibit the restoration of a bald eagle population. Native bald eagles rely on marine prey rather than terrestrial prey such as foxes, however, a bald eagle population can not be successful until the territorial golden eagles have been removed. The remaining eight to 12 golden eagles will be captured and relocated. All of the golden eagles must be captured because even a small number can do great damage to the fox population.

The pig eradication program is not without controversy. Opponents call the pigs’ death sentence unnecessary and inhumane. Galipeau, however, says that live removal of captured animals was shutdown by the state because the pigs potentially carry disease, and sterilization of the existing animals would not remove the pig threat quickly enough.

“We try to be as humane as you can with this project,” Galipeau said.

In the meantime, the approximately 100 wild foxes left on Santa Cruz Island continue to suffer from predation. Captive breeding boosts the species chances at survival, but a full recovery to the species’ pre-golden eagles’, 1,500-member population will not be cheap, quick or easy.