Hematology and serum chemistry of the Island Fox on Santa Cruz Island

Serum and hematologic biochemistry values for island foxes (Urocyon littora lis) on Santa Cruz Island (California, USA) in April (wet season) and Septe mber (dry season) 1998 were evaluated. Serum chemistry of island foxes gene rally varied seasonally; 10 (40%) of the 25 serum characteristics were high er in the wet season, and three (12%) of the 25 serum characteristics were higher in the dry season. No hematologic parameters varied between seasons, although some measures varied between sexes. Blood analytes also varied wi th age; fox pups had higher values than adults for one hematologic and four serum parameters, whereas adult foxes had higher values for five hematolog ic characteristics. The information on blood chemistry provides baseline da ta useful in the monitoring of this threatened insular endemic carnivore.