Dashed Trail

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

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Updated Feb 2022: THE ADVENTURE DISPATCH

#1 it's like nowhere else on earth

Undeveloped and separated from the mainland by 25 miles of ocean water. Santa Cruz is home to plants & animals found nowhere else on earth such as the island Jay bird.

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

#2 it's a time capsule

Because of it’s separation from the mainland Santa Cruz has been isolated and untouched giving us the opportunity to see what southern California once looked like.

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

#3 earthquakes are quite common

The islands were formed around five million years ago through a fault line that runs through the center of the island. The compressional forces are still active today lifting the island upwards.

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

#4 the island fox is the largest mammal

The largest mammal on the island is the very small, island fox. They are merely the size of a house cat. Over time these foxes evolved to dwarf size to better suit island life.

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

#5 you cannot access the majority of the island

To save the 60 unique species from extinction the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy started a restoration program preserving the majority of the island.

5 Things You Didn't Know about Santa Cruz Island

1500 - 

ISLAND TIMELINE

FOXES, NATIVE PLANTS, AND BALD EAGLES THRIVE ON THE ISLAND

1850 - 

HUMANS INTRODUCE SHEEP & CATTLE

1950 - 

BALD EAGLES DISAPPEAR FROM THE ISLAND DUE TO HUNTING & PESTICIDES

1990 - 

ISLAND TIMELINE

GOLDEN EAGLES MAKE THE ISLAND THEIR HOME HUNTING ISLAND FOX

1994-2000

FOX POPULATION DROPX 95%

1997 - 

9 PLANTS ARE LISTED AS ENDANGERED OR THREATENED

1999 -

ISLAND TIMELINE

SHEEP ARE REMOVED FROM ISLAND AND RELOCATION OF GOLDEN EAGLES BEGINS

2002 - 

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND FOX BREEDING PROGRAM BEGINS

2002-2006

BALD EAGLES ARE RE-ESTABLISHED

2004 -

ISLAND TIMELINE

ISLAND FOX LISTED AS ENDANGERED SPECIES

2007 - 

GOLDEN EAGLES ARE SIGNIFICANTY REDUCED ALLOWING ISLAND FOX TO THRIVE

2008 - 

FOXES, PLANTS, AND BALD EAGLES ARE THRIVING

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