SU0012813 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

However, it is my professional opinion that such wanderings are simply random movements in search of other wide, arid grassland- scrub habitats with ample room for a newcomer to establish his territory. The creek courses of such drainages as Hospital and Corral Hollow Creeks provide miniature corridors for such rare _ movement. Not only does the dry creek bed offer a somewhat secluded route of passage for small carnivores, but concrete drainage culverts over both the California Aqueduct and Delta Mendota Canal provide safe travel across these two movement barriers. In addition, the wide, un-grazed grassland right-of- ways on both sides of both canals provide small north-south }' movement corridors. J , Thus in one hypothetical sequence, a SJKF might travel from a population center in Lone Tree Creek Canyon to the I-580 right- of-way area and then turn south to intersect the Hospital Creek drainage on the northern edge of the western segment of the project site. At that point it may travel either up or down the creek bed. In the former instance, it would pass into narrow upper reaches of this canyon course and, given the absence of side canyon routes to other potential habitat sites, eventually retrace its path back down along the creek course. If instead it moves east under I-580 (Figure 11) , it would again most likely use the creek bed to traverse the human and domestic canine hazards of the Brown Sand & Gravel quarry site. Beyond this site the irrigated orchard cropland, and pasture east of the I-5 underpass (Figure 12) is equally uninviting as it . does not conform to the habitat requirements of this species. Indeed, the only tracks of land which do conform past this point are the canal right-of-ways, and along these small corridors our wanderer would travel, perhaps with a day or more stop here and ' there to feed and den. However, the concentrated presence of both coyote and red fox in these areas most likely precludes permanent residency, even though this narrow swaths of arid grassland appear to be suitable habitat for the SJKF. Thus the most likely end to this odyssey would be a return to the remaining preferred habitat areas west of I-580 via the same or another creek bed pathway. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS - SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX 1. No SJKF was observed, either directly or indirectly (tracks, photos, etc. ) on the project site. 2 . No SJKF was seen during the dusk and night spotlight surveys within a two mile radius of the project site. 3. The absence on the project site of any burrow retreat site large enough to house a SJKF strongly suggests that no SJKF has been using this site for denning in the recent past. 4 . The strong dog presence on the project site along with moderate use by both coyote and red fox suggests that if a SJKF were to attempt to establish here, it would be met with rigorous competition for the less than abundant rodent/lagomorph prey supply. ` 12