[1] On September 26, 2007, Wildlands Inc. announced the designation of the 684-acre (2.77 km2) Deadman Creek Conservation Bank, which is intended specifically to protect habitat of the San Joaquin kit fox.

Sarcoptic mange has also constituted a significant threat, specifically to the Bakersfield population of the subspecies, with 15 confirmed cases reported by the end of 2014.

The current largest populations of San Joaquin kit fox is living around the western Kern County on and around the Elk Hills and Buena Vista Valley.

While San Joaquin kit fox's coat colors may vary by range and season, primarily they appears more tan in summer and grey in winter with the external ear flap being dark on the back sides and white hairs on the forward-inner border and base.

[citation needed] The San Joaquin kit fox tends to favor the open grassland or scrubland, where its inhabits dens and feeds on prey such as field mice, kangaroo rats, ground squirrels and insects for some cases and mostly active at night.

[citation needed] The San Joaquin kit fox is a native species that once thrived across the Central Valley,[1] encompassing over millions acres of grasslands, shrublands, and wetlands.

This not only limits the fox's range but also creates barriers that impede movement, restrict gene flow, and increase mortality risks.

Today, much of the kit fox's movement corridors are degraded or blocked, and only a few large areas of native grasslands remain on the San Joaquin Valley's perimeter,[9] underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive conservation efforts.

[8] The use of rodenticides and pesticides presents a significant threat to the San Joaquin kit fox, especially given the creature's close proximity to areas of human activity.

Reports by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation document at least 76 separate incidents of San Joaquin kit fox poisonings from super-toxic rodenticides.

[10] Pesticides, which are designed to eliminate or control pests, can also have detrimental effects on non-target species like the San Joaquin kit fox.

Mange – a skin condition caused by parasitic mites—leads to hair loss, open wounds from scratching and, ultimately, death.

[14] Another significant health concern for the San Joaquin kit fox is rabies, a viral disease that affects the central nervous system.

These climatic shifts can further fragment habitats, making it challenging for isolated fox populations to find mates or access vital resources.

Additionally, The US Fish and Wildlife Service provides standardized recommendations for protection of the San Joaquin kit fox prior to or during ground disturbance.

[citation needed] The indigenous peoples of the San Joaquin Valley, such as the Yokuts, held specific reverence or stories tied to local fauna like the kit fox.