Feds Weigh Whether To Protect Rare California Fox

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Federal officials are weighing whether to offer Endangered Species Act protections to a rare fox once common in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday there is enough information to consider protecting the Sierra Nevada red fox.

Until recently, the subspecies was thought to be confined to the region around Lassen Peak. But in 2010, federal biologists discovered a population of the elusive foxes near Sonora Pass, about 90 miles south of Reno.

The agency says based on its small population size, threats from off-road vehicles as well as attacks and disease transmission from domestic dogs, there is enough evidence to consider protecting the fox.

The service says comments on its status review must be submitted by March 5.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.