For many years, CSERC has set up photo-detection camera stations to attempt to locate the extremely rare Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF) in high elevation habitat of our region. The fox is only known to exist in two widely separated mountainous areas of California – the Lassen region and the local Northern Yosemite region. Agency scientists have struggled for years to locate the elusive foxes that often use habitat literally on the very crest of the mountain range.
Last April, a young student (Skyler – above at right) contacted our Center to share about a project he was doing on endangered animals of California. He was in the process of writing a book about the Sierra Nevada red fox and planned to sell copies of his book in order to donate the proceeds to benefit research on the fox. CSERC encouraged his efforts, and we were pleasantly surprised in October to learn how successful Skyler had been. He sold enough copies of his book “Olive and the Red Fox” to make a substantial donation to CSERC’s SNRF research efforts. Skyler has clearly set the bar as an example for others who care about this threatened “highly at risk” animal. In the following pages, we share updates about the current status of the fox and ask you to consider how you, too, can help.