The Fresno Kangaroo Rat
This blog is dedicated to the Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis), a subspecies of the San Joaquin kangaroo rat that was listed as endangered in 1998.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/TiptonKangarooRat.jpg
The Fresno kangaroo rat is listed as endangered wherever it is found. It was originally listed on January 30, 1998.
Description and Ecology
The Fresno kangaroo rat is the smallest of the three subspecies of San Joaquin kangaroo rats. San Joaquin kangaroo rats share a similar appearance to the 20 other known kangaroo rat species, but they are the most adapted for living in arid environments. As its name suggests, the San Joaquin kangaroo rats have features similar to actual kangaroos such as a pouch to carry seeds and a high jumping ability. Unlike most species of kangaroo rats which have five toes on their hind foot, the San Joaquin kangaroo rat has just four. Size is the only distinguishable factor of the Fresno kangaroo rat compared to the other two subspecies of San Joaquin kangaroo rats.
Geographic and Population Changes
Historically, when the Fresno kangaroo rat was a thriving subspecies it found in grassland and chenopod scrub areas in the San Joaquin Valley that ranged from “about the Merced River. Merced County’, on the north, to the northern edge of the marshes surrounding Tulare Lake, Kings County’, on the south. and extending from the edge of the Valley floor near Livingston. Madera, Fresno, and Selma. westward to the wetlands of Fresno Slough and the San Joaquin River.” However, the current distribution of the rat is nowhere near as vast mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by human development in those areas. The only possibly confirmed (they were certainly San Joaquin kangaroo rats, but the exact subspecies is unknown) Fresno kangaroo rat populations that were found in their historic area were seen in isolated parcels of Kings County. It is still possible that populations can be found within their historical range, however scientist lack permission to conduct any trapping that could help determine population size because many acres of the rats’ historical range are now privately owned. The only new area a population of the Fresno kangaroo rat has been find in is the “seasonally-flooded iodine bush shrub lands in the South Grasslands Water District, Merced County.”
Distributional records of Fresno kangaroo rat
https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980930a.pdf
Causes of Listing and Continued Threats to Existence
As mentioned above, the current distribution of the rat is nowhere near as vast mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by human development in those areas. Even by the time the Fresno kangaroo rat was first discovered back in 1891, human activity in its habitat was threatening the existence of the species to such a high degree that the rat was believed to have gone extinct in the early 1900s until it was rediscovered in 1933. Since human cultivation of their historical habitat has left it increasingly fragmented, the population of the Fresno kangaroo rat has become several populations; obviously a problem as isolation leaves the species more vulnerable than ever. On top of human activity, natural flooding has been a problem for the kangaroo rat, but it was never considered an event that would be catastrophic for the subspecies until after all the damage humans have done to its habitat.
Major Points of the Recovery Plan
In order to prevent the extinction of the Fresno kangaroo rat, several steps must be taken to ensure its survival:
· The isolated populations must be located and identified, but this means convincing private land owners to allow research to be conducted on their property.
· Determining the size of the population is important to see if captive breeding is a necessary recovery option.
· Their current habitats need to be protected, but again, this means striking deals with private land owners.
· Currently fragmented Fresno kangaroo rat habitats need to be de-fragmented, then continuously maintained.
What Can We Do?
I personally believe the issue concerning the continued existence of the Fresno kangaroo rat is largely political. The primary dilemma is whether a government agency should be able to conduct research and potentially alter privately owned land. Additionally, should private land owners be allowed to let a species go extinct on their property? It’s a moral matter that needs to be addressed in order for the recovery plans of species beyond just the Fresno kangaroo rats to be executed. Until this is resolved, the recovery plan will likely remain dormant. However, the public can help prevent further devastation to the Fresno kangaroo rat through local politics. Considering human development is a major factor in the impending extinction of the species, citizens of the cities that contain kangaroo rat populations can vote or speak out against new development projects like shopping centers that would further disrupt the geography of the Fresno kangaroo rat. Humans are ultimately responsible for the demise of the Fresno kangaroo rat and countless other species. It is our responsibility to right the wrongs we have committed against the environment.
Resources
For all information and a recovery plan on this species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service: https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980930a.pdf
For additonal information on this species by the EPA:
To contact council members of Kings County regarding conservation:
Works Cited
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Fresno Kangaroo Rat.” Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San
JoaquinValley, California, 1998, pp. 94–104., ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980930a.pdf.
What a cute little rat species! I have never seen or heard of these rats, but they have my political support. It is difficult to trace and prevent the extinction of such a small species, but these little guys need to make it. Sad that most of these animals are in such danger due to human causes, but we can always turn the tables and help these species instead.
ReplyDelete-Daniel Tomer
DeleteGood job on this blog! I had never even heard of this species and learned a lot. It is really crazy that even the people working to protect the species are unable to get an accurate population estimate to work on conserving the species. -Sophie Topping Zimmerman
ReplyDeleteHey! First of all, these things are literally so adorable, and I have never heard of them. So that was really cool. Secondly, I thought it was so cool how they had like...pouches to help them carry food. Its crazy how these tiny creatures can bear such a striking resemblance to such big creatures like a Kangaroo. - Grantland Tracy
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! These are such interesting little guys and that's why we need to work to conserve them. I loved all of the pictures and think this is a perfect example of the effects habitat fragmentation can have on a species. -Alyssa Slattery
ReplyDelete