“Suddenly, a small, dark canine walked right toward me on a trail … “
A few years back, wildlife photographer Raychel Burke set out for a hike in the Mount Rainier wilderness, not expecting her path to cross with one of the rarest animals on Earth. Along the way, another hiker mentioned a coyote on the trail. But when Burke finally spotted the animal, she froze in awe — this was no coyote.
“Suddenly, a small, dark canine walked right toward me on the trail, but it was much smaller than I expected,” Burke recalled.
Later, when she reviewed her photos, Burke realized she hadn’t encountered a coyote at all. Instead, she had been face-to-face with a Cascade red fox — a critically endangered subspecies found only in the high-altitude regions of Washington State. With only a few dozen left in existence, seeing one in the wild is an extraordinary event.
“Being a wildlife photographer with a background in zoology and conservation, I was thrilled to learn I had crossed paths with one of the rarest subspecies of fox on the planet,” Burke said.
These elusive foxes are built for survival in some of the harshest conditions in the U.S. “They are smart and tough, surviving in the unforgiving landscape of the sub-alpine zone — one of the snowiest places in the States,” Burke explained.
Over the years, Burke and her family have been fortunate enough to spot the same fox again on their hikes, forming what she calls a “parasocial relationship” with the rare animal. “She might not remember me each time we meet,” Burke said, “but I like to think they do.”
On one unforgettable outing, Burke watched the fox hunt for her next meal. More recently, she discovered something even more heartwarming — the fox had become a mother.
“I squealed with delight when I learned that this fox is a mother with kits hidden in the area,” Burke said. “Seeing them take steps toward repopulation is always a huge win!”
As tempting as it can be to linger near such a rare animal, Burke is careful to always give the fox her space. Cascade red foxes are particularly vulnerable, and human interaction poses real risks to their survival. “One time, she sat nearby resting, and I walked away to give her space,” Burke said.
Conservation groups, like the Cascades Carnivore Project, are working hard to study and protect these foxes. They stress that the best way people can help is by keeping their distance, never feeding or approaching them, and reporting sightings responsibly. “It is imperative to never search for, approach, or feed a Cascade red fox,” Burke said.
Thanks to these efforts — and the deep respect of nature lovers like Burke — the Cascade red fox has a fighting chance. With a little luck, future generations of hikers at Mount Rainier may one day be as fortunate as Burke, catching a glimpse of this rare and resilient survivor.