Specially trained dogs located about 85 scat samples in California’s Lassen region, providing new evidence that the critically endangered Sierra Nevada red fox may still exist in the wild. These detection dogs aid wildlife conservation by leveraging their remarkable sense of smell to locate scats quickly and accurately, often over challenging terrain that is difficult for human surveyors to cover.

The scat will undergo genetic testing at UC Davis to establish whether the samples come from individual foxes and to refine population estimates, an important step for a species long considered one of California’s rarest mammals. Currently, the best population estimate suggests that only about 18 to 39 Sierra Nevada red foxes remain in the wild, emphasizing the urgency of these conservation efforts.

Working Dogs for Conservation deployed the canine teams in the field to search rugged, high‑elevation terrain where the red fox is notoriously difficult to detect. Pete Coppolillo, executive director of Working Dogs for Conservation, described the emergence of the field: “Our field in the last 15 years has just exploded,” he said. This method represents a non-invasive technique that not only improves detection rates but also enhances overall population and habitat data.

The dogs’ work is part of a broader noninvasive monitoring approach that complements remote cameras and genetic analysis of hair and scat. Detection dogs are increasingly helping researchers pinpoint biological markers, such as scat and scent trails, that humans often can’t find, a technique the scientific literature shows can accelerate and improve surveys of elusive species. By promoting such innovative techniques, researchers can significantly minimize disturbance to wildlife.

The Sierra Nevada red fox is classified as critically endangered and plays an important ecological role as a predator of rodents and small mammals, helping to regulate prey populations and support plant communities. Individuals interested in supporting efforts like this can donate to organizations such as Yosemite Conservancy, which fund surveys and other initiatives vital to recovery plans.

Conservation groups have flagged the fox’s vulnerability. The Center for Biological Diversity expressed concern about the animal’s precarious status, while the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides population estimates used in recovery planning. The newly located scat samples, once genetically processed, could inform those estimates and guide future management decisions.

UC Davis is conducting genetic testing on the collected scat to determine how many individual foxes are represented. The results will help scientists map movements, identify relatedness among animals, and refine counts without needing to capture or collar animals, thereby further reducing potential stress on the species.

Working Dogs for Conservation and partner agencies have increasingly relied on scent-detection methods to survey hard-to-reach habitats; the approach can reduce disturbance to wildlife while improving detection rates across rough terrain. This technique has also been applied to locating invasive species and other conservation priorities, showcasing its versatility in wildlife management efforts.

The discovery of roughly 85 scat samples in Lassen provides a rare set of physical samples that could confirm recent fox presence and inform where field teams concentrate future surveys. Results from UC Davis will determine whether the material represents multiple individuals and will feed into ongoing efforts to monitor and protect the subspecies.

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Original reporting: view the original article.