On Wednesday, the US Fish and Wildlife Service refused to include Sierra Nevada red fox in the Endangered Species Act. One of the main reasons behind not including it in the list is a research carried out in Central Oregon that showed a significant extension of its range.

The research is taking place and has confirmed that the Sierra Nevada red fox is present in the Oregon Cascades, especially in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas.

The researchers continue to take samples from different areas. The study findings have led the fox to be added as a Strategy Species in the 2015 draft update of the Oregon Conservation Strategy. Over the two year project, more than 700 photos of Sierra Nevada red fox were taken.

The researchers said they have seen red fox at high elevations throughout the study area. “Our cameras detected red foxes at high elevations throughout the study area, which occasionally included areas with high human activity such as ski resorts”, affirmed Jamie McFadden-Hiller, head of the field work.

As per preliminary DNA analysis of hair samples, the foxes are considered to be the native of Sierra Nevada subspecies of red fox.

Researchers are confident that more testing will lead to more answers of the questions about the red foxes like assessing their population connectivity.