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.

Jessica attended California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science. After working short-term field positions across the West studying animals such as Cascade red foxes and seabirds, Jessica began working for the newly implemented California Statewide Bobcat Project for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Jessica is now a Graduate Student (Master of Environmental Science & Management)at UCSB in the Bren School, and hopes to specialize in Conservation Planning to better understand the best way to manage species populations for the sake of the public.