In the rugged subalpine zones along Manastash Ridge east of Mount Rainier, a GPS collared female Cascade red fox is giving us a rare glimpse into the complex social lives of these elusive carnivores. This female was first fitted with a GPS collar by University of Washington PhD student, Nate Redon, in partnership with Mount Rainier National Park and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2023. In 2024, her movements led us to a den. And this year, a 2nd den in a new location. She is revealing a fascinating story of cooperation and survival.
The "Helper Fox"
When our team discovered the 2024 den, the female appeared to assist in raising kits. This behavior, known as the "helper" fox, is seen in some fox families where a related female (often a sister or daughter from a previous litter) aids in feeding and protecting the young.
Why do foxes do this? Helper foxes increase the survival odds of the kits, strengthening family bonds and ensuring genetic legacy.
How do we know the collared female wasn’t the mother? We aren’t positive, but she appeared on our trail cameras less often than two additional foxes who seem to have been the mated pair. DNA from fur and scat collected at the two den sites may help confirm relationships.
The collared female appears at an entrance of the 2024 den site.
A New Den, A New Chapter
This spring, the female’s GPS data led us to a second den in a different location, which appears to be her own. The kits inside, estimated to be just four weeks old as of late May, represent a new generation of foxes in this fragile ecosystem.
Trail cam footage which we will retrieve in July may show more of the collared female and her new family. Fingers crossed!
More scats were collected at the 2025 den site. Genetic testing will reveal if the 2024 helper den kits are related to this year’s litter. Results are expected within about 6 months.
Stay tuned for more regarding this exciting revelation!
Snowshoe hare and bird remains are found around the den along with baby fox scats!
Jocelyn sets up a trail camera near the 2025 den site.