When you step off the boat at Channel Islands National Park, just one to three hours will have passed since you left the California coast. It will feel like you’ve traveled to another world.
“There’s an almost untouched quality to the islands that you don’t find in many places anymore,” says Peter Gros, wildlife expert and co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild. “You see what California vegetation looked like nearly 200 years ago.”
And then there’s the quiet—or what Peter likes to call nature’s version of it: “Instead of your usual human-made noise, you’re surrounded by the gentle hum of insects, sage scrub and trees moving with the breeze.”
The isolation of these islands, he says, has allowed wildlife to evolve in remarkable ways. Roughly 150 plant and animal species are native only here.
You’ll likely spot one of the islands’ most fascinating creatures soon: the Channel Island fox, a tiny canine found nowhere else on earth, isn’t shy.
Meet the Tiny Fox
You’ll notice their size immediately. About one-third smaller than mainland foxes, adult Channel Island foxes are often mistaken for pups by visitors. But what might surprise you most about them is how curious and calm they are around humans.
That’s what caught the attention of wildlife ecologist Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild. When she and Peter visited the islands in season 1, the foxes appeared as they set up their campsite and throughout filming.
“This species evolved without many natural predators, so it’s amazing to see their lack of fear of humans firsthand,” Rae says. “We’re so used to wildlife being reserved around people, and it’s a rare opportunity to see an animal move through its habitat so confidently, even with a camera crew around.”
The history of the Channel Island fox is just as intriguing. It’s believed they were brought to the islands by the native Chumash people.
“The foxes lived alongside the Chumash for thousands of years, and those communities helped shape the fox’s history on the islands,” says Rae. “(They) considered the Island fox to be a wise and sacred animal.”
Over time, the foxes evolved into a new species distinct from their ancestors from the mainland. Six of the eight islands even have their own subspecies.
Today, they are one of the tiniest apex predators and the smallest canine in North America, though “tiny” is relative. On the islands, they are still the largest native terrestrial predator in most cases, Rae says. And they’re thriving, but in the not-too-distant past, they nearly went extinct.
How We Almost Lost the Channel Island Fox Forever
It’s a cautionary tale: “The fox’s decline wasn’t caused by just one factor but was the result of a chain reaction across the ecosystem,” Rae says.
It began with the introduction of the insecticide DDT, which had the unintended consequence of thinning eggshells. On the islands, it wiped out bald eagle nesting by the 1960s. Their competitors gone, golden eagles from the mainland moved in, drawn by their favorite meal: pigs introduced to the islands by ranchers.
This series of events changed everything for Channel Island foxes because, while bald eagles are primarily fishers, golden eagles eat small mammals. Suddenly, the tiny foxes were being hunted from above with no instinct to look up for danger. In the 1990s, their population dwindled to only about 15.
Then something incredible happened. People came together to save them, and to do it, scientists and conservationists had to go back to where it all began, Rae says.
The golden eagles were relocated back to mainland California. The nonnative pigs that first attracted them had to go, too. Next, to keep the golden eagles at bay, came the complex process of bringing bald eagle nesting back to the islands.
With the ecosystem restored, the Channel Island fox’s population recovery began with the help of a controlled breeding program—and it worked. By 2016, the foxes were thriving on the islands again.
“It’s known as the fastest recovery of an endangered species in U.S. history,” Peter says, adding that it underscores an important lesson: “When it comes to conservation, urgency matters, but so does collaboration. When people come together with a shared commitment to protect something as delicate as wildlife, we can restore balance.”
Before You Plan a Trip to See the Foxes, Read This
This isn’t a park you can simply drive into. It requires a one- to three-hour boat ride and—because there are no amenities on the islands—quite a bit of planning. But don’t be discouraged. “That’s part of what makes it so special,” Peter says. “The serenity you find there is well worth the effort.”
Here’s what you need to know to be prepared, whether you’re making a day of it or planning a longer stay.
Peter’s Channel Island Packing Checklist
- Enough food and water for your stay (There are no amenities on the islands.)
- Camping gear
- Hiking gear
- Trash bags (There are no trash cans either—be prepared to pack it out.)
- Binoculars (Along with Channel Island foxes, you’ll see incredible marine life, including dolphins and—if you’re there at the right time—migrating whales.)
Update: Santa Rosa Island, one of five islands comprising Channel Islands National Park, is currently closed due to a recent wildfire. The island is set to reopen for day use on July 1, 2026, while the Water Canyon Campground will remain closed through at least August 13. Check current conditions before you go at NPS.gov/CHIS.
“While it seems like you need to bring a lot to feel fully prepared for a visit, the beauty of these islands is that you can camp year-round, so you’ll rarely face large crowds,” Peter says. “You get to be one with nature, and even the Channel Island foxes are common enough that you’ll have the chance to see them roaming freely throughout the park, including campsites and hiking trails.”
Most importantly, Peter says, give yourself time to truly take it all in. “When you’re out there, the experience feels wild and unfiltered, and that makes the encounters with wildlife feel incredibly personal.”
Want to learn more? Watch the Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild episode “The Lost Fox of the Channel Islands” on NBC, Peacock, or nbc.com, or listen to the companion podcast.
Terri Robertson has been an editor and storyteller for more than 20 years. As Deputy Digital Editor at Country Living, she curates daily newsletters and has found a niche writing about odd corners of the internet and people embracing American life off the beaten path. She’s passionate about gardening and nature, writing about everything from super monarchs to supermoons. She also contributes to Country Living’s entertainment coverage, including HGTV stars, popular TV shows, and music. Terri began her career proofreading Southern Living cookbooks—a first job befitting an English major with a childhood penchant for reading her mom’s cookbooks—and went on to edit many food, garden, and lifestyle titles. She later worked for the University of Alabama’s marketing and communications division, capturing the stories of students and faculty. Returning to lifestyle media in 2017, she covered local arts, culture, and business news in Birmingham, Alabama, for Bham Now and later served as digital media manager for Flower magazine, a luxury home, garden, and lifestyle publication, before finding her home at Country Living. She and her husband live with their four cats in Birmingham.
