Posted on Feb 13, 2022
Central Oregon biologist tracks the rare and mysterious Sierra Nevada red fox
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Wildlife biologist Jamie Bowles has spent the past several years in search of an elusive species in Oregon’s Cascade Range
At an Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife office, biologist Jamie Bowles reviewed a video clip submitted to her for species identification. Recorded while driving a forest road in Central Oregon’s Cascade mountains, the handheld video showed a glimpse of gray and black fur as a small animal slipped behind a ponderosa pine.
The animal reappeared and began a slow trot alongside the road. It was an ash-gray color, with tiny black legs, pointy ears tipped with black, and a narrow black muzzle. Clearly it was a canid, but too small to be a coyote. Its puffy tail nearly dragged on the ground and was tipped with white, the signature feature of a fox.
“This is unbelievable,” the driver narrated to the recording phone. “What a beautiful animal. I think it’s one of those Cascade red foxes...”
The driver’s guess made sense. In fact, as recently as a decade ago, wildlife biologists would have concurred.
At an Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife office, biologist Jamie Bowles reviewed a video clip submitted to her for species identification. Recorded while driving a forest road in Central Oregon’s Cascade mountains, the handheld video showed a glimpse of gray and black fur as a small animal slipped behind a ponderosa pine.
The animal reappeared and began a slow trot alongside the road. It was an ash-gray color, with tiny black legs, pointy ears tipped with black, and a narrow black muzzle. Clearly it was a canid, but too small to be a coyote. Its puffy tail nearly dragged on the ground and was tipped with white, the signature feature of a fox.
“This is unbelievable,” the driver narrated to the recording phone. “What a beautiful animal. I think it’s one of those Cascade red foxes...”
The driver’s guess made sense. In fact, as recently as a decade ago, wildlife biologists would have concurred.
Central Oregon biologist tracks the rare and mysterious Sierra Nevada red fox
Posted from opb.orgPosted in these groups: State of Oregon
Wildlife
Wildlife
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Very interesting Brother. I love watching fox pups play. We had a couple red foxes living on our property. It's a treat to see them which isn't too often.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Cpl Vic Burk Used to See Red Foxes Vacationing in Kentucky and Tennessee as a Kid.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."But Bowles confirmed a different identity of the wild animal in the submitted video. It was the rarest and most endangered red fox subspecies in North America that she’d been tracking for years: the Sierra Nevada red fox.
Jamie Bowles never expected to become one of Oregon’s leading experts in Sierra Nevada red foxes. The field research that Bowles conducted is an important first step in learning about Sierra Nevada red foxes in Oregon."...
..."But Bowles confirmed a different identity of the wild animal in the submitted video. It was the rarest and most endangered red fox subspecies in North America that she’d been tracking for years: the Sierra Nevada red fox.
Jamie Bowles never expected to become one of Oregon’s leading experts in Sierra Nevada red foxes. The field research that Bowles conducted is an important first step in learning about Sierra Nevada red foxes in Oregon."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel - Yes, they are... but they could probably do a number on you if you messed with them.
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