'Rarest Carnivore' Spotted In NorCal Region For The First Time In Decades

A canine considered "one of the rarest carnivores on the planet" has been spotted in the Lake Tahoe Basin region for the first time in decades, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

A trail camera along the Blackwood Canyon area in Placer County captured a Sierra Nevada red fox frolicking around by themselves on Nov. 13, 2025, before moving off-screen.

This was the first time the canine had been detected in the area since the mid-1900s, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials. Experts suggest this may be a sign that the Sierra Nevada Red Fox population is growing and branching out across the mountain ranges.

The fox was once thought to have been completely eradicated from the mountain ranges due to wildfires and drought. But a group of them was spotted near Sonora Pass — more than 100 miles from the Lake Tahoe region — in 2010, according to wildlife officials.

Although more have been spotted further north than the Tahoe region, the fox is considered highly elusive, according to wildlife officials. It is considered endangered under federal law, as only a few dozen remain in the wild.

Sierra Nevada red foxes are smaller than most fox species and are covered by a thick fur coat that helps them survive heavy winter snows and alpine conditions. They are typically found at high elevations of several thousand feet, according to wildlife officials.