Elusive Sierra Nevada red fox spotted in Yosemite
The rare fox saunters through Yosemite National Park. Photo/NPS
By Sarah Larimer, Washington Post
A Sierra Nevada red fox was recently spotted in Yosemite National Park for the first time in almost 100 years.
“We are thrilled to hear about the sighting of the Sierra Nevada red fox, one of the most rare and elusive animals in the Sierra Nevada,” Yosemite National Park superintendent Don Neubacher said in a news release. “National parks like Yosemite provide habitat for all wildlife and it is encouraging to see that the red fox was sighted in the park.”
Motion-sensitive cameras captured pictures of the animal roaming in the northern portion of Yosemite on Dec. 13 and Jan. 4, according to the National Park Service. Crews have set up “hair snare stations” in the area as well and hope to be able to perform genetic analysis that will help them learn more about the fox population.
Sierra Nevada red foxes (Vulpes vulpes necator) are smaller than other members of the fox population, and have darker fur. NPS officials estimate that there are fewer than 50 Sierra Nevada red foxes in North America, making it “one of the rarest mammals” on the continent.