The Sierra Nevada red fox hadn't been spotted in Yosemite National Park for a 100 years until this winter, when a motion-sensor camera captured one of the bushy-tailed animals trotting through the snow.
The park celebrated by sharing one of the photos on Twitter this Wednesday.
"We are thrilled to hear about the sighting of the Sierra Nevada red fox, one of the most rare and elusive animals in the Sierra Nevada," Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent,
said in a news release.
"National parks like Yosemite provide habitat for all wildlife and it is encouraging to see that the red fox was sighted in the park."
The current population of the Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator) is thought to be under 50, making it one of the rarest animals in all of North America.
Park workers said that they discovered the fox pictures on a recent trip to the backcountry portion of the park. When they checked the cameras, they discovered that they'd snapped pictures on December 13, 2014 and January 4, 2015. Both pics show a fox, however they're still trying to determine if the pictures show the same fox, or different foxes.
"Confirmation of the Sierra Nevada red fox in Yosemite National Park’s vast alpine wilderness provides an opportunity to join research partners in helping to protect this imperiled animal," said Sarah Stock, Wildlife Biologist at the park. "We’re excited to work across our boundary to join efforts with other researchers that will ultimately give these foxes the best chances for recovery."
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