FOXES 77 



Cascade Red Fox. Vulpes cascadensis Merriam 



Field characters. — General appearance that of a collie dog, but size smaller; tail 

 extremely large and bushy; ears prominent; head and body about 26 inches, tail (exclud- 

 ing hairs at end) 16 inches, ear (about 4 inches?). Coloration (red phase) rich yellowish 

 brown above, becoming white on belly and throat; feet and tips of ears black; inside 

 of ears and end of tail white. 



Occurrence. — Rare resident in higher zones on Sierra Nevada. Recorded definitely 

 only at Big Meadows (4500 feet altitude), northeast of El Portal, about February 10, 

 1916; but to be expected anywhere from this level up to timber line. Lives chiefly in 

 forest. 



The Cascade Red Fox in the Yosemite reg^ion proved to be a notably 

 elusive creature. We, ourselves, were not able to gain any direct informa- 

 tion concerning it. On a number of occasions we saw tracks or sign which 

 were believed to be those of this species, but we neither saw nor trapped 

 the foxes. They must be present in only limited numbers, as even experi- 

 enced trappers in the region, who have made good catches of other fur- 

 bearers, have rarely taken the Red Fox. Inclusion of the species in the 

 fauna of the Yosemite rests definitely upon a single imperfect specimen 

 obtained through Mr. F, S. Townsley of the Park Ranger Service. 



This specimen was taken at a locality, Big Meadows, which lies well 

 within the Transition Zone and hence inside the range of the California 

 Gray Fox. And it may be that the captured fox was driven to this low 

 level by the extreme severity which marked the winter of 1915-16. 



The Red Fox is quite different in appearance from its foothill relative, 

 the Gray Fox. While exhibiting the dog-like appearance of foxes in 

 general, the present species has proportionately larger ears, a softer and 

 heavier coat of fur, and a more cylindrically bushy tail which looms large 

 in proportion to the size of the animal 's body. An occasional individual of 

 the Red Fox departs from the regular color scheme and becomes a "cross", 

 fox or even a "black" fox. The general darkening in tone results from 

 replacement of the red in the pelage by black. One of our local informants 

 told of seeing a "black" fox in the vicinity of Tioga Pass in September, 

 1915. 



San Joaquin Kit Fox. Vulpes macrotis mutica Merriam 



Field characters. — Similar to Red Fox in general appearance, but size smaller; head 

 and body 19 to 21 inches (480-540 mm.) ; tail 10 to 12 inches (260-310 mm.) ; ear 

 3 to 3% inches (80-93 mm.); weight 4 to 6 pounds (1800-2700 g.).6 Upper surface 

 light grayish brown, gi'izzled with white; tail bushy, with end conspicuously black; under 

 surface of body pale yellowish to white; inside of ears white. 



6 Measurements from specimens taken elsewhere in San Joaquin Valley. 



