Wildlife biologists have recently identified a previously undocumented fox population in the remote highlands of northern New England, as reported by Animal around the Globe. This new population, temporarily named the New England Highland Fox, exhibits unique physical and genetic traits that challenge current understanding of North American fox species.
How One Woman’s Photos Uncovered a Mysterious New Fox Species
According to the article, the discovery of this unusual fox population first gained attention in late 2021 when wildlife photographer Elaine Westbrook captured striking images of a fox-like animal in Vermont’s Green Mountains.
Locals had reported sporadic sightings of foxes that did not resemble the common red or gray foxes found in the region. These images showed an animal with a rusty orange-brown coat marked by unusual silver-gray patches and a shorter, black-tipped tail, distinct from known fox species. Following the photographic evidence, biologists deployed trail cameras across northern New England, confirming numerous sightings over the subsequent 18 months.
The wild dog was provisionally named the New England Highland Fox due to its habitat preference for high-elevation forests and alpine meadows above 2,500 feet. The remote and rugged nature of these areas likely contributed to the animal’s previous scientific oversight.
Physical And Genetic Characteristics Setting The New Fox Apart
This population exhibits several distinctive physical traits. Adults weigh approximately 12 pounds, placing them between the size of typical red and gray foxes. Their fur features a predominantly russet color, with silver-gray “saddle” markings along their shoulders and backs. Their ears are noticeably more rounded, and the thick fur around their neck forms a prominent ruff, providing insulation adapted to cold, mountainous environments. The foxes have shorter, sturdier legs compared to other regional foxes, likely an adaptation to navigating rocky, uneven terrain.
DNA evidence suggests that this population diverged from other vulpines between 50,000 and 100,000 years ago, possibly evolving in isolation since the last ice age. Their genetic profile shares similarities with red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) but remains distinct enough to propose either a new subspecies or species designation.
Why This Mysterious Fox Only Lives Where Few Dare to Go
The New England Highland Fox inhabits high-elevation zones primarily in Vermont, New Hampshire, and western Maine. Their range centers around the White and Green Mountains, with frequent sightings above 3,000 feet. They prefer mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, rocky outcroppings, and alpine meadows, environments less accessible and studied than lowland areas.
Tracking studies using GPS collars on captured individuals showed that these canids maintain small territories of 3 to 5 square miles, considerably smaller than those of red foxes. Their habitat specialization appears to isolate them ecologically and geographically, creating what researchers call a “mountain island” effect that may limit gene flow and increase vulnerability.
This New Fox Could Vanish Without Urgent Action
Preliminary population estimates indicate fewer than 2,000 individuals, prompting conservation biologists to highlight potential risks. Climate change poses a significant threat by altering alpine ecosystems critical to the fox’s survival. Habitat fragmentation and warming temperatures could further isolate these populations, increasing extinction risk.
Wildlife agencies in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine have initiated collaborative monitoring and conservation plans. Programs by organizations like The Nature Conservancy are working to protect key habitats through easements and land preservation. Researchers face ongoing challenges due to the foxes’ elusive nature, remote habitats, and the difficulty of capturing specimens for study.
