An elusive red fox in Yosemite will soon be listed as endangered.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service earlier this week granted the Sierra Nevada red fox, one of the rarest animals in California, endangered status. The decision will go into effect in 30 days.
The Sierra Nevada red fox population was thought to be wiped out, until a motion sensor caught a picture of one a decade ago.
"So now there is really only one small, isolated population left mostly in and around Yosemite National Park,” Jeff Miller, Senior Conservation Advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, told KCBS Radio on Tuesday.
“And it’s estimated there's only 18-39 adults of these foxes living in the entire Sierra Nevada."
The Sierra Nevada red fox mostly hibernates in dens in the winter. It has a thick coat, and furry toe pads in order to walk over snow.
California has already banned fur trapping of the animal. The endangered designation will limit snowmobile use near Sierra Nevada red foxes, prevent red foxes from habituating with people and some habitation protection.
"This is a pretty important step because the Endangered Species Act protections will probably give the species a chance at survival and recovery," Miller said.
The Center for Biological Diversity will push for another red fox population in the cascades near Lassen Park to be designated as endangered and granted further habitat protections.
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