Danger of Extinction
The Sierra Nevada Red fox was placed on the California Endangered Species list since 1980. The California Department of Fish and Game gave the fox a rating of critically endangered, and it has now become the most endangered species in North America, having only 50 of these foxes left. The Sierra Nevada Red Fox fur is a prized possession to trappers looking for money. This started during the early portion of the last century. The Red fox fur is much softer than the Grey fox fur, making the Red fox’s much more valuable. Loggers are a huge threat, because they cut down large trees, destroying the foxes winter home. Another threat are wildfires. Wildfires abolish huge amounts of land, including the red fox’s habitat. Even is the fox is not eliminated in the process, it’s prey would be wiped out, disallowing it to eat. Recreational activities, such as off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, hiking and camping can degrade the Sierra Nevada red fox habitat, transform his normal behavior, and/or cause the fox to move to a new area where they are more vulnerable to predators and starvation. Off-road and snow vehicles can travel at speeds suchlike or greater than cars on the freeway, making the driver at more risk of hitting a red fox. Even the noise level of these vehicles can cause them to change behaviors or elevate stress levels. Livestock grazing is another issue for the Sierra Nevada Red Fox because overstocking decreases it’s prey population.