Smaller than most fox species, the Sierra Nevada red fox is covered in a thick fur coat and has fuzzy paws, both designed to help it survive the heavy snows and challenging alpine conditions it calls home.
The Sierra Nevada Distinct Population Segment was listed as endangered in 2021 with only about 18 to 39 individuals remaining in the wild today. Wildfire, drought, competition with coyotes, decreases in prey numbers, and widespread hybridization with non-native foxes have led to the decline of this species.
With the limited population, spotting one of these animals in the wild is an incredibly difficult task. Remarkably professional photographer Randy Robbins managed to capture some footage with a winter camera set up at 8,500 feet. The camera was placed in an undisclosed location in Lassen Volcanic National Park under a Special use Permit.
Only about 30 Sierra Nevada red fox are estimated to live in the corner of California, making this footage remarkably rare.
