01-07-2025
Near-Extinct Mammal Called One of 'Rarest' in the World Caught on Camera in National Park
A critically endangered fox, called "one of the rarest mammals in the world," was recently caught on camera by a Northern California photographer in a National Park.
As SFGate reported, wildlife photographer Randy Robbins caught incredibly rare footage of a Sierra Nevada red fox. While estimates vary, researchers believed there to be less than 100 individuals of its species left in the wild. The footage was taken last winter in Lassen Volcanic National Park in rural northeastern California.
"Sierra Nevada red foxes are uniquely adapted to life at high elevations, sporting thick coats and dense fur that transforms their paws into snowshoes," the Yosemite Conservancy reported. "But being well-suited to a cold, snowy climate isn't enough to protect this mammal. The fox, which was officially designated as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2021, is extremely rare in its namesake range."
Related: 3 Grizzly Bears Dead in 2 Separate National Park Incidents
Robbins told SFGate that the footage was captured by a camera set up in the national park in October 2024. He believes the footage is from between November and December of last year.
'I was like 'Man, this is just a beautiful scene.' It was kind of overlooking the whole background. It was just perfect,' he said 'when I got it home on the computer was really when I realized this is special.'
Check out Robbins' footage below, and read more about his discovery over on SFGate.
Near-Extinct Mammal Called One of 'Rarest' in the World Caught on Camera in National Park first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2025
