The endangered Cascade red fox, native to Washington’s southern Cascades, faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and coyotes, which are both competitors and predators. Researchers supported by this Northwest CASC project will track Cascade red fox population sizes, movement, habitat use, and survival using GPS collars. They will use the collected data in collaboration with state, federal, and tribal agencies to develop and evaluate conservation strategies to protect the Cascade red fox in a changing environment.

The Cascade red fox (CRF) is a rare, high-elevation subspecies of the red fox, now limited to Washington’s southern Cascades. Because of its scarcity, elusive nature, and lack of research, little is known about CRF abundance, survival, habitat use, movements, or threats. In 2022, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife produced a Periodic Status Report that led to the CRF being listed as endangered by the State of Washington. The Periodic Status Report identified several hypothesized threats, most linked directly or indirectly to climate change. These threats include habitat loss and the invasion of high-elevation areas by coyotes, a major competitor and predator on CRF, whose invasion may be facilitated by changing snow conditions. Despite the identification of these hypothesized threats, no specific management strategies have been developed to advance CRF management and conservation goals.