In 1999, the Catalina Island fox was nearly wiped out by a canine distemper epidemic. The disease arrived on the island via a stowaway raccoon.

After more than 15 years, biologists estimate the Catalina Island fox population is approaching a threshold.

An outreach effort was begun by Julie King, the island's wildlife manager, to educate the island's human residents and visitors on how to coexist with the animals without killing them. The Catalina Island Conservancy is raising money to buy 150 animal-proof trash bins and recycling containers that cost US$2,000 each.

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"The consequence of having a recovered population is that they're moving into areas around Avalon where people haven't seen foxes in their backyards for 15 years. They've become less diligent with trash practices," said King.

Conservationists estimate there are now more than 1,700 foxes on Catalina Island. The fox is one of six subspecies of the Island Gray fox (Urocyon littoralis), one for each of the six main Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.

Research suggests Paleo-Indians brought the foxes to the southern islands roughly 4,000 years ago.

The Island Gray fox weighs in at just four to six pounds, out-sizing its mainland relatives by 25 percent.

As the largest mammal on the island, the omnivore has a plethora of dietary options, including mice, lizards, birds, wild fruits and insects.

Though it does have one predator, the Golden Eagle, the fox is basically top dog.

Researchers said that in 2014 alone, at least 25 foxes died as a result of being run over by vehicles poisoning and other human-related dealings. That's more than the two previous years combined, in which a total of 20 Catalina Island foxes were killed by vehicles.

Though protecting the animals from disease will remain a top priority, conservationists may need to shift their focus from saving the fox to teaching humans how to live safely side by side with the wild animal.

TagsCatalina Island Foxes are Now Coming Back from Extinction, Catalina Foxes, FOX, foxes, animal extinction, Island Gray fox, gray fox, Catalina Island fox, Catalina Island fox extinction