For the first time since 2011, the Sierra Nevada fox was spotted for the first time at Yosemite National Park. The population of the animal is so low that at some point it was believed that there are only 10 adults left in the wild.

Conservationists are trying to help them survive, however observing them in the wild could pose a massive challenge.

Gone for years

The conservationists were given hope after spotting an incredibly rare species of fox for the first time. It is believed that the species somehow managed to crawl its way back from the brink of extinction after this rare sighting.

Since observations in Yosemite National Park began in 2011, the Sierra Nevada fox was not seen not until recently when it was spotted via trail camera in an area in the park.

Also known as the High Sierra fox, the Sierra Nevada fox is a subspecies of red fox and likely one of the most endangered mammals in Northern America. Already highly vulnerable to extinction due to its highly dangerously small population, the species face threats to its habitat.

When the population of a certain species drops so low that it becomes rare and disappears for many years, it could be hard for experts and conservationists to know if they are truly extinct or still exists. As their total numbers dwindle below the triple digits, finding a surviving member of that specie is an incredible challenge.

Hope for the Sierra Nevada red fox

The challenge of finding the Sierra Nevada red fox is compounded by the fact that these animals are nocturnal and travel solo. Many believe that there are only two populations of Sierra Nevada red fox left today, and lower than 100 adults, BGR reports.

Based on the results of surveys, experts suggest to monitor their population for there may be as few as ten adult foxes still around. The news about the one that was spotted by the Yosemite trail camera was a bit late.

In fact, the camera has captured that photo of the fox way back in October 2019. However, it was only recently that the backwoods camera that took the photo was checked.

Frank Dean, president of the Yosemite Conservancy said that spotting the rare fox is a great news as it helps researchers better understand these elusive animals as carrying out efforts to support rare species is a massive challenge for conservationists.

Especially when researchers know only little about the lifestyle and habits of the creatures that they are trying to save, it could really be hard to help them survive. It is believed that the destruction brought by humans is highly responsible for the plight of the foxes.

Just like other species of the red fox, the Sierra Nevada red fox is similar to them. The more experts will learn about them, particularly this rare fox, and the better equipped they will to give the foxes a fighting chance.

They will only be able to measure their success in conserving the foxes once they begin to see more of them in the wild.