The largest of the eight Channel Islands strewn along the coast of Southern California is Santa Cruz Island, which is located off the coast of Santa Barbara. It's a rocky, windy, and mostly predator-free habitat that has subtly influenced the biology of everything that has survived there, including exotic flora and native foxes. A single flock of sheep left to fend for themselves over several generations with virtually little human supervision is one of the best-documented examples of that shaping process.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!