Caught on Camera: Mule Deer Adorably Licks Island Fox

Why would a Mule Deer lick the head of Channel Island Fox? We may never know, but thankfully, there are pictures.

Wild animals of different species rarely snuggle, but when they do, the whole world wants to know about it. On Catalina Island, California, a Channel Island Fox and a species of Mule Deer were seen having a peculiarly affectionate interaction. Chris Lowe, a shark researcher on the island, witnessed a Mule Deer stop to lick a small Channel Island Fox. The fox did not run, but calmly stayed and even nuzzled the deer.

Yep, that is off-the-charts cute—take a moment to let it sink in.

island-conservation-channel-island-fox-mule-deer
A Mule Deer licks a Channel Island Fox on Catalina Island, California. Credit: Chris Lowe / California State University Shark Lab

That this moment was captured was lucky in more than one sense. In the 1990s, island fox populations dropped dramatically due to the increased presence of invasive Golden Eagles, feral pigs, and a canine distemper disease. The Island Fox was classified as Endangered, and its future was precarious. Fortunately, captive breeding and invasive species removal revived the Island Fox populations and resulted in the recent downlisting of three sub-species. If it weren’t for conservation intervention, the island fox very well may have gone extinct.

island-conservation-Channel-Island-Fox
Catalina Channel Island Fox and a Mule Deer. Credit: Chris Lowe / California State University Shark Lab

The backstory of the Channel Island Fox is exemplary of the incredible conservation gains offered by island restoration. Researchers cannot explain exactly why the deer and the fox would connect in this way, but a few hypothesis have been tentatively put forward. One is that the salty sea air made the fox’s fur appealing to the deer. Another is that since these species evolved without major predators, they have few fears and therefore let curiosity take over. But the reason a Mule Deer would lick a Channel Island Fox is unknown, but one thing is certain. If it weren’t for conservation efforts to save the Island Fox from extinction, we might not have ever gotten to see this ridiculously adorable and heartening wildlife encounter.

Featured Photo: A Channel Island Fox on Santa Cruz Island, California. Credit: Andrej Chudý
Source: The Atlantic

Back Next

Want to learn more?

Check out other journal entries we think you might be interested in.

What is Climate Week?

Climate Week NYC: what is it and why is it important? Read on to find out why Island Conservation is attending this amazing event!

Rare Joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge

Rare will support the effort to restore island-ocean ecosystems by engaging the Coastal 500 network of local leaders in safeguarding biodiversity (Arlington, VA, USA) Today, international conservation organization Rare announced it has joined the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC), a global effort to…

Video Footage Highlights Lehua Island Restoration Project

Video captures insights and hopes from the partners who are working to restore Lehua Island, Hawai’i. In 2021, Lehua Island officially became free from the threat of invasive rodents. This is a huge accomplishment that has enriched the region’s biodiversity…

Tequila Sunrise? Or Floreana Sunrise?

Carolina Torres describes how the project to restore and rewild Floreana Island signals hope for a future where people and nature can thrive together in the Galápagos.