May 27, 2004 — For four years the Save Our Species Roots & Shoots group (SOS) in Ventura County has worked to save the Channel Islands Fox, holding fundraisers, educating thousands of Southern Californians at festivals, and seeking support from public and elected officials. In April of 2004 they saw their and others' preservation efforts pay off — the federal government added the fox to the Endangered Species List, which provides the full range of protections available under the Endangered Species Act, including prohibitions on killing or harming the species.

In support of the students' efforts, Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum has designated April 8th as Island Fox Day. She and Channel Islands National Park Superintendent Russell Galipeau presented certificates of appreciation to the 15 elementary and middle school SOS members at a special ceremony on that day. Dr. Goodall was a featured speaker at the event, which was held at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara at 10:00 a.m. on April 8.

The students, ranging in age from 8 to 13, began a campaign in 2000 to support recovery efforts for the small canine relative of the grey fox. Four of the six fox subspecies are threatened with extinction on four of the six Channel Islands on which the fox is found. The group was organized by then 8-year-old Allie Morris, daughter of Channel Islands National Park archaeologist Don Morris and teacher Susan Morris, who became the SOS parent leader. The students conducted a public education, outreach, and fundraising effort over the past four years, working in conjunction with the Channel Islands National Park staff and the Santa Barbara Zoo. They raised $10,000 and conducted outreach throughout Southern California. SOS made presentations to the mayor and city councils of Ventura and Oxnard and to their members of Congress, who inserted mention of SOS and Roots & Shoots in the Congressional Record.

SOS now is working with other groups to establish a non-profit trust to aid in a captive breeding program aimed at restoring the fox's numbers.

Roots & Shoots groups throughout the world plan and implement service projects showing care and concern in three areas: the environment, animals and the human community. There are currently more than 6,000 groups in 87 countries.