Red fox thought extinct sighted near Sonora Pass
By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee
A rare Sierra Nevada red fox has been located in the Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora Pass, confirming that the species continues to survive in a region where it was thought to be extinct for nearly a century.
“It’s really exciting,” said Adam Rich, a wildlife biologist with the Stanislaus National Forest. “It’s one of the Holy Grails for a wildlife biologist in California.”
A rare red fox. Photo/CDFG
The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of the rarest mammals in North America. Until now, only about 20 were known to exist in a small area of Lassen Volcanic National Park – a number considered too small to support the species long-term.