Sierra Nevada red fox caught on camera near Hosmer Lake; wildlife expert speaks to more sightings near town

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A bushy-tailed fox recently caught on camera near Hosmer Lake is a Sierra Nevada red fox, a protected species that may be more visible of late due to wildfires or other reasons, a wildlife expert said this week.

Lori Graaf shared a photo with NewsChannel 21 taken last Sunday, saying she was “so fortunate to see this beauty today.”

Sally Compton, executive director of Think Wild Central Oregon, said, "They are an Oregon Conservation Strategy species in the East Cascades, and some distinct populations are federally listed as endangered.

"They are more commonly found in our higher elevations, but I agree that there seem to be more and more sightings closer to town," Compton said.

"This could be that they're avoiding wildfires and/or seeking resources like food and water, she said, adding, "Best to steer clear and do not feed them or any wildlife, because we don't want to encourage them to continue seeking resources in our urban areas, where they're likely to get hit by cars."

Oregon doesn't have exact population counts, Compton said, but the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is trying to get more information by asking the public to submit observations on iNaturalist when they see them (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/oregon-wildlife-conservation).

"This is a great way for the public to contribute to important citizen science and conservation work<" she said.