Ben Sacks, an expert in canine genetics and a researcher in the School of Veterinary Medicine, has new findings suggesting that these animals are natives, and close cousins to the native Sierra Nevada red fox. Sacks, who's studied the foxes for the past 10 years, is reaching out to the public for help in reporting all sightings of red foxes in the Sacramento Valley and in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades mountains. He asks that anyone who sees any evidence of red foxes in the area, either alive or dead -- even roadkill -- tell him about it online at: (bnsacks@ucdavis.edu)
May 29, 2007
Contrary to onetime scientific opinion, red foxes living in the Sacramento Valley are not an artificially introduced species that threaten local ecosystems, according to a UC Davis researcher.
Ben Sacks, an expert in canine genetics and a researcher in the School of Veterinary Medicine, has new findings suggesting that these animals are natives, and close cousins to the native Sierra Nevada red fox. Sacks, who's studied the foxes for the past 10 years, is reaching out to the public for help in reporting all sightings of red foxes in the Sacramento Valley and in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades mountains. He asks that anyone who sees any evidence of red foxes in the area, either alive or dead -- even roadkill -- tell him about it online at: (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
"It's important that we collect public data as well as continue our own research," said Sacks. "Getting this well-rounded stream of information will help us learn more about how the Sacramento Valley red fox interacts with its local environment."
In other low-elevation parts of the state, red foxes are indeed nonnative, invasive and threaten several endangered bird species. Some ecologists and biologists have called for the nonnative animals to be killed in these areas to preserve the delicate balance of those ecosystems.
!ADVERTISEMENT!
Specifically, Sacks and his team are interested in understanding how the Sacramento Valley foxes, whose ancestors evolved in cold mountainous climates, adapted to the warm flatlands of the valley.
Sacks and the School of Veterinary Medicine have set up a Web site where the public can report their sightings: http://foxsurvey.ucdavis.edu. The site also has helpful tips and photos for distinguishing red foxes from gray foxes and coyotes.
Learn more:
Ben Sacks, School of Veterinary Medicine, (530) 754-9088, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sylvia Wright, UC Davis News Service, (530) 752-7704, swright@ucdavis.e
