Vulpes vulpes necator Oregon Rank Assessment

Scientific Name:

Vulpes vulpes necator

Common Name:

Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Classification:

Vertebrate Animal

Range Extent:

D = 1,000-5,000 sq km (~400-2,000 sq mi)

Potentially could be anywhere in western Oregon above 1200 m

Population Size:

Comments: None

Number of

Occurrences:

A = 1 - 5

Comments: 9 verifiable occurrences in last 20 years - Aubry

Area of Occupancy:

E = 26-125 4-km2 grid cells

Comments: Few records, but species is wide ranging.

Good Viability:

AB = None to very few (0-3) occurrences with good viability

Comments: None

Environmental

Specificity:

A = Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce

Comments: Only in forests above 1500m

Short Term Trends:

U = Unknown

Comments: None

Long Term Trends:

CD = Decline of 50 - 80%

Comments: None

Threat Impact:

B = High

Comments: Climate change may significantly reduce habitat for this high elevation species. Threatened by competition from lower elevation fox and coyotes.

Intrinsic

Vulnerability:

Not Evaluated

Comments: None

Heritage Rank:

S1

Comments: Although potential range is large, species is not found in much of it. Limited to high elevation forests, which are susceptible to climate change. Very few recent observations in Oregon.

Rank Notes: None

Reference: AUBRY, K. B., STATHAM, M. J., SACKS, B. N., PERRINE, J. D. and WISELY, S. M. (2009),

Phylogeography of the North American red fox: vicariance in Pleistocene forest refugia. Molecular Ecology, 18: 2668–2686.| Perrine, J.D., LA Campbell, GA Green. 2010. Sierra Nevada Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes necator): A Conservation Assessment digitalcommons.calpoly.edu | Keith Aubry, USFS, pers comm. |

Rank Date: 5/8/2013

Rank Factors Author: E Gaines

Oregon Biodiversity Information Center Institute for Natural Resources Portland State University

Mail Stop: INR, PO Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751

503-725-9950