In the late 1800s, California introduced red foxes for hunting and fur farms; at Seal Beach, they drove light-footed Ridgway's rails down to just 5 pairs in 7 years

In the late 1800s, non-native red foxes wreaked havoc on the population of Ridgway's rails, bringing them perilously close to extinction. Fortunately, wildlife managers acted to eliminate the invasive foxes, resulting in a notable rebound for the rail population. The return of coyotes also played a crucial role in managing the fox population, further supporting the rails.