Nathan+Santa+Cruz



**__Santa Cruz Island__** **__Fauna__** The Santa Cruz Island Fox (Urocyon Littoralis Santacruzae), the Spotted Skunk (Spilogale Gracilis Amphialus), and the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus Maniculatus Santacruzae) live on Santa Cruz Island. The Channel Island Fox is vulnerable to most domesticated dog diseases. The IUCN (International ** Union ** ** for ** ** Conservation ** ** of ** ** Nature **) says the entire species is endangered. It is only native to Santa Cruz Island. The Spotted Skunk holds about 1 tablespoon of odorous liquid. It is a species of omnivore. It is only native to Santa Cruz Island. The Deer Mouse is a great runner and jumper. It is only distantly related to the common House Mouse. It is mostly endemic to Santa Cruz Island.

**__Santa Cruz Island__** **__Flora__** The Island Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Insularis), the Whitehair Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Viridissima) and Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare) all live on Santa Cruz Island. The Island Manzanita is a large spreading shrub. It has reddish and waxy bark and is endemic to Santa Cruz Island. The Whitehair Manzanita varies in shape and size. It has oval, wooly and white bristled leaves it is also endemic to Santa Cruz Island. Fennel has yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is an edible flower and is only native to Santa Cruz Island.

 **__Santa Cruz Island__** **__Location__**

Santa Cruz Island is located off the west coast of California. Santa Cruz Island is at 34 degrees N. longitude and 119 degrees W. latitude. It is almost 25 miles from Santa Barbara and 5 miles from Anacapa. The closest island to it is Anacapa and the closest city to it is Santa Barbara.

**__Santa Cruz Island__** **__Physical Appearance__** Santa Cruz Island looks like a bird with no legs from a birds eye view. It is over 4 times the size of Manhattan or Bermuda and is larger than the District of Columbia. It is 96 square miles or almost 62,000 acres. It has deep canyons that are rough. It is a mountainous island. Temperatures almost never rise above 85 degrees or sink below 35 degrees. The central valley can reach over 100 degrees or sink below 20 degrees in the winter. Due to the extreme change in temperature they of the island can change. 