Wildlife Photographer Documents Endangered Cascade Red Fox Population in Washington State

In 2020, wildlife photographer Gretchen Kay Stuart made her first observation of the Cascade red fox on Mount Rainier, prompting her to start a documentation initiative. This subspecies, which exists solely in the Cascade mountains, has an estimated population of about 50 individuals. Stuart collaborates with biologist Jocelyn Akins from the Cascades Carnivore Project, which has been studying these foxes since 2008. The species faces significant threats, including habitat loss, climate change, food conditioning, predator access, and rodenticide poisoning. In 2022, Washington designated the fox as endangered, facilitating collaborations with the Yakama Nation and the University of Washington. Stuart's photography uncovers new behaviors and underscores pressing conservation issues, highlighting the importance of community scientists in ecological studies.