Arctic foxes

When it comes to survival in the northern polar regions, the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is one of the best equipped dwellers of the high north. With luxuriously thick fur, Arctic foxes stroll across the tundra and can withstand the coldest of temperatures at -50C (-58F). Find out how their clever hunting techniques, elaborate den building skills and comeback from near extinction shaped the unique ecosystem of the Arctic!

Breeding and Reproduction

Adult animals usually mate in late winter. The life of a young fox starts in early spring, between April and June, when females give birth to litters of eight to 15 kits. Gestation lasts from around four to five weeks and after being born, young foxes start to emerge from the den at two to four weeks of age. Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) are monogamous during breeding season and not only female foxes attend to their kits, but also males help to feed and protect the young. At four to five months, kits start to become independent and at about six weeks are fully weaned. Arctic foxes become sexually mature at ten months of age.

Their dens are complex underground masterpieces, with networks of tunnels, several entrances and nests. Arctic foxes may expand their burrows over many years. When hunting for prey or finding food, Arctic foxes stay close to their dens to escape predators and keep their young ones safe.

Feeding Habits

The Arctic is a harsh place to live and food isn’t always available. Arctic foxes are perfectly adapted to this environment. As fierce predators and opportunistic feeders, they sustain on small mammals, rodents (such as lemmings), birds, insects, eggs, berries and carrion. Any extra food collected during the Arctic fox’s summer hunt is stored in their large dens. Foxes’ diets depend on their habitat, and those living in coastal areas prey on fish, seals and marine invertebrates. The opportunistic foxes know how to get a filling meal, even during the winter when prey is limited. They follow polar bears onto sea ice and scavenge on whatever the polar bears leave behind (e.g. seal carcasses). Hunting through snow cover is another ingenious method of getting a meal. Foxes walk on top of the snow until they detect small creatures moving below them. Breaking quickly through the snow cover, they then grab their prey with their front paws.

Migration

These animals are nomads of the Arctic and usually travel in small groups (called a skulk or a leash). Hunting and breeding in the tundra during the summer months, they commute to areas with sea ice during the winter in places like Russia, Alaska and Canada. In the Scandinavian alpine tundra, as well as places without sea ice (such as Iceland, which is surrounded by open waters), you can find a resident population of this species.

Once young foxes leave their parental dens, they venture out to secure their own territory, covering up to 4,800 km (2,900 miles) within a year. Older foxes take it easier and cover only around a third of that distance during migration.

Range and Habitat

You can find the Vulpes lagopus (Arctic fox) in the Arctic and alpine tundra regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Their circumpolar distribution means you can spot Arctic foxes in northern Canada (Northwest Territories), Alaska (coastal areas), northern Europe and Asia. During the summer, they roam the tundra, while in winter foxes are known to venture out far onto the pack ice to feed on carrion left-overs from polar bears.

Conservation Status, Trends and Threats

Arctic fox populations are currently plentiful and, as of 2023, there are more than 630,000 animals roaming the Arctic. Previously in the 1920s, they had been classified as a protected species across Scandinavia after being hunted to near extinction. Arctic fox populations have been recovering steadily, though their thick fur is still an attractive commodity today. The next potential threat to Arctic foxes could be climate change and global warming, with less snow cover to insulate dens during the winter and restricted access to food.

It’s not always the foxes that need protection. Population trends of foxes on the Aleutian Islands and Pribilof Islands in Alaska decreased the local bird population and lush grasslands in the region. Without guano as fertilizer, the soil lacked the necessary nutrients to produce greener landscapes. With foxes who have been introduced by sailors from as early as 1750, seabird species started to disappear. Since 1949, trappers have removed foxes from 37 Aleutian Islands, which prompted an explosion in seabird populations and a return of lush vegetation.

Fast (Fox) Facts

• Species: Arctic fox (Latin name: Vulpes lagopus or Alopex lagopus)

• Animal type: Mammal

• Body length: Around 109 cm (43 inches) including the tail (which is on average 38cm/15 inches long

• Weight: Male 3.2-9.4 kg (7-20 lbs.) and female 1.4-3.2 kg (3-7 lbs.)

• Appearance: Dense fur, short legs, bushy tail

• Arctic fox fur color: Light grey, bluish brown, dark grey during the summer and white winter pelage (foxes of the blue phase stay colored throughout the year)

• Life expectancy: 3-6 years in the wild

Fox Diet

Arctic foxes are scavengers and omnivores feeding on small mammals (dead or alive), rodents, berries, birds and eggs, insects, carrion, animal and even human stool. Foxes in coastal areas (mostly blue phase foxes) enjoy seaweed, black crowberries, fish, seals and marine invertebrates.

Top 5 Facts about Arctic Foxes

• Lemmings and foxes share a close predator-prey relationship.

Arctic foxes highly depend on lemmings as a food source and as lemming populations change, so do the foxes’. And did you know that lemmings often stay close to their main predator? Researchers near Churchill, Canada found that lemmings tend to build their nests right in the snow on top of the fox dens!

• They are masters of seasonal camouflage.

While equipped with a thick white fur coat to prevent heat loss in winter, they change to a thinner grey or brownish coat during the summer. Foxes of the blue phase stay colored year-round, but get lighter during the winter.

• Their skin is dark.

Underneath all the bushy white fox fur, they feature dark skin (similar to polar bears), which helps to absorb heat from the sun and thus aids in keeping a warmer core temperature in the animals.

• They have an incredibly sharp sense of smell.

Nothing escapes their sensitive noses. Arctic foxes can smell a delicious seal a mile away!

• They build burrows to last.

Fox families use their elaborately-built fox dens for many generations. Some dens can be up to 300 years old!

Arctic Foxes and Humans

Extensively hunted over past centuries for their high-quality pelts, Arctic fox populations worldwide are making a major comeback. With increasing numbers of foxes, rabies cases are also on the rise, but thanks to modern treatment methods humans bitten by a rabid fox are very likely to recover (if caught in time). With the fur trade dramatically decreasing over past decades, fox populations aren’t as vulnerable to extinction, even though natives of the Arctic still hunt foxes for their fur. There are also some companies arranging hunting trips for tourists.

From the 1920s to the 1970s, locals used the winter months for trapping, as fox pelts were a valuable commodity and income source for Inuit families (e.g. in northern Canada). In addition to that, the incredibly warm fur made great clothing and seal hunters would put fox fur under their shoes to approach a seal hole without being noticed by the animals.

Red Foxes vs. Arctic Foxes

With climate change and rising temperatures, Arctic foxes are losing ground to red foxes. A fierce competitor for food, the red fox is moving into northern territories, which reduces the already decreasing food availability. While red foxes feature smaller litters (four to six kits), they are larger and more aggressive. This unwelcome relative encroaching on Arctic foxes’ territories is known to take over dens, killing kits and even adult foxes in the process. Red foxes are not only larger than their Arctic counterparts, but also faster. While Arctic foxes can run at speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph), red foxes can outrace them with speeds of up to 72 km/h (45 mph). A new fierce predator moving into the Arctic polar regions can threaten the delicate ecosystem of the High North.

FAQs

What do Arctic foxes eat?

Depending on food availability, Arctic foxes feast on prey such as small mammals, insects, birds, eggs, berries and marine invertebrates. Other food includes carrion. They are known to follow polar bears onto sea ice to feed on their hunting remains.

How many Arctic foxes are there?

As of 2023, there are an estimated 630,000 animals residing in the Arctic region. Their preservation status is of least concern. Climate change, global warming, reduced sea ice and rising sea levels may affect Arctic fox populations in the future.

Do Arctic foxes make good pets?

Generally, foxes do not make for good pets, as their urine is very smelly. In most countries, it is not legal to keep a pet Arctic fox (or other animals classified as wild), though this regulation may vary from place to place. In Iceland, for example, it is illegal to own a wild animal as a pet. While sometimes people keep other foxes (such as a domesticated breed of the red fox) as pets, most US states do not allow this. North Carolina, for example, permits pet foxes, provided owners obtain an exhibition license and participate in educational programs (e.g. for schools).