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OUR Potentially suitable habitat for kit fox at the Site consists of a large abandoned gravel pit containing annual grassland over generally hilly terrain (Photograph# 1). Property surrounding the Site is currently or has been used in the past for commercial surface mining operations. Vegetation cover at the Site consists primarily of non-native annual grasses.Non-native invasive species common at the Site include tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), turkey mullen (Eremocarpus setigerus), tar weed (Hemizonia spp.), and a variety of non-native grass species (i.e. Bromus spp., Hordeum spp.). Native herbaceous plants observed include sticky gumweed (Grindelia spp.), lupine (Lupine spp.) and telegraph weed (Heterotheca grandiora). An irrigation canal located immediately adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site serves as a potential water source for kit fox and other animals. The canal contained flowing water at the time of the survey, but transmits fluctuating levels of water throughout the year. A shallow abandoned quarry immediately south of the Site contains hydrophytic vegetation (willow trees, cottonwood trees) indicating the presence of water. The shallow abandoned quarry south of the Site was dry at the time of the survey,however, it was inundated during earlier site visits during January and March 2003. California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) and their burrows are found in various locations at the Site. In particular, the deep ravine that runs diagonally through the center of the Site (Photograph #2) and the base of the eastern quarry wall contain the highest concentration of both ground squirrels and their burrows. Isolated burrow systems were found throughout the Site, however, few burrows exist that fulfill the requirements for den use by kit fox (as described further below). Potential prey species for kit fox at the Site include small nocturnal mammals such as ground squirrels, black-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus californicus), and kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.). Table 1 provides a complete list of observed wildlife species. The Site appeared to provide an adequate prey base for kit fox and other small mammal predators based upon observations in the field. Kit Fox Species Profile Kit fox are the smallest candids in the United States. The San Joaquin is the largest of the kit fox subspecies, with adults weighing about 5 pounds. Kit fox are lightly built, with long legs and large ears. Their coat ranges from tan to buffy gray in the summer to silvery gray in the winter. They have a white belly and a black-tipped tail. Kit fox home-range size varies from 642 to 7660 acres, and is likely to be affected by stochastic changes in resource abundance2. Historical kit fox habitat consists of open grassland areas at or close to valley bottoms, however, due to loss of habitat through agricultural development and other land conversions, kit fox are now known to use foothill habitat. USFWS.2003.Website(http://sacrainento.fws.gov/es/animal sacct/s' kit fox.htm). 2 USFWS. 1998,Recovery Plan for the Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley,California.Portland,OR. SJ Kt Fx Srvy Rpt(draft2):L 2