Rare Sierra Nevada Red Fox Collared for First Time

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In a significant breakthrough for conservation efforts, researchers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have successfully captured and collared a Sierra Nevada red fox, one of the rarest and most threatened mammals in the United States. The Sierra Nevada red fox, which was believed to have been wiped out in the region in the 1920s, was rediscovered in 2010 and is now estimated to have fewer than 50 individuals remaining. The GPS collar will provide crucial insights into the elusive creature's movements and behavior, helping guide long-term recovery strategies for the endangered species.

Why it matters

The Sierra Nevada red fox is an iconic and highly threatened species, with fewer than 50 individuals believed to exist in the wild. Collaring one of these rare foxes represents a major milestone for conservation efforts, as it will allow researchers to gather critical data on the species' ecology and habitat needs to inform strategies for protecting and restoring the population.

The details

After a decade of using remote cameras and scat surveys to track the movements of the Sierra Nevada red fox, researchers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were finally able to capture and collar one of the elusive creatures near Mammoth Lakes in January. The fox, which has a distinctive silvery-gray coat and white-tipped tail, was fitted with a GPS collar and released back into the wild. The collar will provide scientists with valuable insights into the fox's seasonal movements, daily activity patterns, and other behaviors that can help guide conservation efforts.

• In 2010, a motion camera north of Yosemite National Park captured the first confirmed sighting of a Sierra Nevada red fox in the region since the 1920s.
• For the past decade, wildlife biologists have been using remote cameras and scat surveys to track the movements of the Sierra Nevada red fox.
• In the last three years, researchers have been carrying out intensive trapping efforts to try and collar one of the rare foxes.
• In January 2026, biologists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife successfully captured and collared a Sierra Nevada red fox near Mammoth Lakes.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Researchers plan to use the data from the GPS collar to better understand the seasonal movements, habitat needs, and other behaviors of the Sierra Nevada red fox, which will inform long-term conservation strategies to protect and restore the endangered population.