Similar to arctic foxes, wolves are also part of the candid family of animals.

This is less suitable for arctic foxes and favors the red fox.īecause these two species of fox are competing for prey resources, the red foxes attack the arctic foxes which is known as intraguild predation, this has the dual benefit for red foxes as they can feed upon the arctic foxes and can eliminate competitors for their prey.Īrctic foxes are unable to breed within approximately 8km of a red fox den as the red foxes will kill their young 4 (source: The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids, Macdonald and Claudio Sillero-Zubiri, 2004). The rising temperatures have allowed more plant species to spread north which has resulted in large parts of the tundra turning to forest areas. Due to climate change, the camouflage of the arctic fox is less effective in areas where snow cover has reduced so the red foxes are becoming more dominant 3 (source: Climate Change Biology, Lee Hannah, 2011). As ice retreats and boreal forests spread northward, fox habitat shrinks, causing serious concern for the long-term survival of the species.Although part of the same family, red foxes are now the greatest predators of the arctic fox and one of the reasons they are endangered in some regions 2 (source: ICUN Red List, 2009). Some populations have suffered sharp declines due to over-hunting, including those in Scandinavia, where insufficient food sources in the 1980s and 1990s reduced fox numbers to an estimated 120 adults. POPULATION TREND: The worldwide population of Arctic fox is believed to be several hundred thousand, though only a few populations have been studied. THREATS: Arctic foxes are threatened by global warming, competition from the larger, northward-spreading red fox, and hunting and trapping for the fur trade. Foxes living near water take advantage of access to marine animals like fish, seals, seabirds, and marine invertebrates. If they hear something move, they will jump up and down to break through the snow and reach with their front paws to grab the prey. Arctic foxes walk on top of the snow and use their acute hearing to listen for small creatures below. Come wintertime when prey is scarce, they will follow polar bears and wolves to scavenge the remains of their kills. During the summer months, Arctic foxes collect a surplus of food and carry it back to their dens to bury and store. They will also eat birds, insects, eggs, berries, reptiles, and amphibians. They rely on populations of rodents, especially lemmings, voles, and other small mammals. LIFE CYCLE: Arctic foxes live for three to six years.įEEDING: Arctic foxes are opportunistic feeders, eating practically any animal alive or dead. Arctic foxes reach sexual maturity in as few as 10 months. The young are weaned at two to four weeks at which time they emerge from the den. Usual litter size is five to eight kits, although as many as 15 have been known. Births occur from April through June for the first litter and in July or August for the second litter. The average gestation period is four to five weeks.

Large-scale migrations have been recorded in Canada, Russia, and the Scandinavian peninsula, possibly a result of drastic reductions in available food supply.īREEDING: Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. MIGRATION: In Alaska, Arctic foxes migrate from their fall breeding grounds and travel to coastal areas, returning in late winter or early spring. In North America, the Arctic fox is found from western Alaska east through northern Canada, including portions of the Northwest Territories, Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec. RANGE: The Arctic fox has a circumpolar range and is found in the tundra extending through the northernmost regions of Europe, Asia, North America, Greenland, and Iceland. HABITAT: Arctic foxes live in Arctic and alpine tundra, in coastal areas, on ice floes, and north of the tree line.

They measure three feet from nose to tail and weigh between six and 12 pounds. In the winter, these foxes boast a long white coat that sheds to short, dark gray to bluish-brown fur in the summer. Thick fur combined with a unique circulation system in their paws keep the pads of Arctic foxes' feet warm while maintaining their core temperature. DESCRIPTION: Arctic foxes are well adapted to the cold: They are small and stout compared to other foxes their short snouts, stubby legs, and little, curled ears help to minimize heat loss.

Arctic fox vs bird predator prey