Long Lost Fox Found

Photo By: Keith Slausen

The Forest Service confirmed a rare sighting of a Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator), in the area where the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Stanislaus National Forests and Yosemite National Park come together. "The last known sighting of a Sierra Nevada red fox in the Sonora Pass area was sometime in the 1920s," said Mike Crawley, Bridgeport District Ranger. "Needless to say, we are quite surprised and excited by this find."

After Forest Service wildlife biologists identified a photo believed to be a red fox they confirmed the sighting with genetic analysts performed by the University of California, Davis.

"This is the most exciting animal discovery we have had in California since the wolverine in the Sierra two years ago –– only this time, the unexpected critter turned out to be home-grown, which is truly big news," said wildlife genetics researchers Ben Sacks. (The wolverine was an immigrant from Wyoming.)

Sacks researches red foxes extensively. Below, a shot of Sacks with a Sacramento Valley red fox (Vulpes vulpes patwin).

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