Populations of endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica; SJKF) living in Bakersfield and Taft, California, have declined due to an ongoing sarcoptic mange epizootic. Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Signs of sarcoptic mange are visually apparent, causing generalized hair loss that initially begins on the ischial tuberosities, tail, and legs. Population monitoring for signs of sarcoptic mange typically involves camera surveillance. However, cameras can lead to false-positive or false-negative identification of infested individuals. Because S. scabiei mites induce pruritus (itching), they may elicit grooming and ingestion by foxes, enabling the development of a non-invasive fecal-DNA detection method targeting scats. To evaluate the utility of a fecal-DNA detection method, we utilized quantitative PCR and metabarcoding methods aimed at detecting mange mite DNA in fecal samples collected from infested and non-infested SJKF individuals. We will present preliminary estimates of sensitivity and specificity at the individual and population levels. A successful non-invasive fecal-DNA PCR assay for S. scabiei would enable mange surveillance to be combined with fecal DNA-based monitoring of population abundance and diet across the range of the SJKFs.