TESTING THE USE OF RUB-STATIONS FOR SARCOPTIC MANGE TREATMENT IN SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOXES

Jessica J Copeland ; UCSB ; jessicacopeland@ucsb.edu; Alyse Gabaldon, Erica Kelly, Brian Cypher, Jaime Rudd

San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica, SJKF), endemic to California's San Joaquin Valley, face habitat loss and fragmentation threats. In 2013, sarcoptic mange emerged as a significant threat to the urban Bakersfield SJKF population, causing severe health issues in SJKF and a 100% mortality rate if left untreated. Given the urgency for intervention, the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) has been trapping SJKF and applying topical acaricides, but this approach is insufficient for broader population treatment. Carnivores, including SJKF, will often rub or roll to scent mark, and it may be possible to induce rubbing behavior on objects that contain medication, allowing for self-treatment. In July 2024, ESRP initiated a pilot project deploying 12 rub stations containing lure, dish soap, and dye on Bakersfield school campuses to determine their feasibility as a self-medication method for SJKF. There were 255 SJKF visitations to 9 of the 12 rub stations, but the interaction was limited, with only 19% of visiting kit foxes rubbing (49/255) and 10.5% rolling (27/255). These findings suggest that SJKF are unlikely to engage effectively with the rub stations, highlighting the need for alternative methods to address the critical threat of sarcoptic mange in the population.

Poster Session