Gretchen Kay Stuart. Cascade Red Fox.

High in the fog-veiled Cascade Range of Washington State lives an elusive mountain carnivore able to endure bleak and blusterous winters—the Cascade red fox (Vulpes vulpes cascadensis).

Listed as endangered at the state level in October of 2022, this native red fox subspecies is smaller than a lowland red fox and has fur-lined feet and an extra thick winter coat. Endemic to Washington State, the subspecies is little-known even to locals due to their elusive nature and small, high-elevation populations.

As a partner conservation photographer for the biologists who research them, I have dedicated several years of fieldwork to tracking and documenting individuals while solo backpacking in remote subalpine and alpine zones where the foxes reside. This is the first Cascade red fox I ever encountered, known as Whitefoot. 

Whitefoot likely passed in the depths of 2021’s winter, but she played an incredible role as an ambassador of her subspecies by living a long life of at least 10 years old and being the only Cascade red fox that was ever commonly seen by visitors of Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. Her unique beauty sparked interest and adoration among those lucky enough to encounter her.

Gretchen Kay Stuart is a Pacific Northwest-based conservation photographer who finds hope and purpose in focusing on wildlife species of greatest need and raising awareness for them with visual storytelling, writing, campaigning, and collaborating with scientists.

Follow Gretchen on Instagram @gretchenkaystuart.