Evaluating Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in San Joaquin Kit Foxes
This study investigates anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) exposure in the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), endemic to California’s San Joaquin Valley. While urbanized kit fox populations show remarkable adaptability, they face heightened risks of AR exposure compared to their exurban counterparts, with documented AR-related mortalities. Traditionally, AR detection relies on liver sampling from deceased animals, which limits the assessment of live populations and provides no information on the timing or location of exposure.
Researchers analyzed paired liver, fecal, and hair samples from 12 necropsied kit foxes to determine whether fecal or hair samples could serve as indicators of recent AR exposure. All liver samples contained AR residues, while fecal and hair samples demonstrated varying AR detections, indicating fecal monitoring’s potential as a non-invasive method to track recent exposure in live and deceased animals. This approach can also aid in real-time identification of contaminated environments, improving wildlife management and evaluating legislation (AB1788 and AB1322) designed to reduce AR exposure in non-target wildlife. This research highlights innovative monitoring techniques to protect endangered species like the San Joaquin kit fox.