User:TWest820/Cascade red fox

The Cascade red fox (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis) is a montane subspecies of red fox occurring along the crest and east side of the Cascade Range in Washington State. The fox is a Washington State candidate species of concern and designated a Washington sensitive species by the U.S. Forest Service. Habitat fragmentation, loss of habitat due to climate change, and inbreeding depression are primary conservation concerns.

Description
Cascade red fox are somewhat smaller and lighter weight than lowland North American red foxes. , similar to Sierra Nevada red fox. Their pelage may be red, cross, or silver phase with the red ranging from the blonde or tan color of Sierra Nevada red foxes to the orange-red of foxes found in Eastern North America.

Range
Cascade red fox are one of three fox subspecies in the montane clade of North America, occurring in the Cascade Mountains north of the Columbia River. Populations of unknown size exist in the vicinities of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Whether the fox occurs in the North Cascades and around Mount Baker is uncertain. Recolonization of the Mount St. Helens area does not seem to have occurred after the mountain's 1980 eruption.

Diet
Typical of red foxes, Cascade red foxes consume primarily snowshoe hares, voles, berries, gophers, insects, and birds. Strawberries, blueberries, and grasshoppers are summer foods with the proportion of mammals increasing by about half in winter. Fox use of human food sources is a management concern, particularly within Mount Rainier National Park.

History
The three subspecies in the montane clade separated after the Wisconsin glaciation, 15 to 20,000 years ago, with the Columbia River perhaps dividing the Cascade and Sierra Nevada red foxes. However, prior to 2010, montane red foxes in Oregon were presumed to be Cascade red fox. Earlier literature therefore indicates incorrect ranges for Cascade and Sierra Nevada red fox.