Fast Facts: Arctic Fox

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At first glance, Arctic Foxes are fluffy and adorable. But under all that fur is a elegant and fierce predator that braves the Arctic's temperatures of -50 ° F to 50 ° F every day


The Arctic Fox : Vulpes lagopus

Description: Native to the Arctic regions, the Arctic Fox is a thick-coated mammal around 30-40 inches long; the size of a dog. Distinguishable by its white fluffy coat, this animal is either white/blue (depending on the morph) in the winter and turns into varying shades of brown in the summer. The Arctic Fox is also characterized by its upturned snout, triangular ears, flattened skull, and long tail which reaches about a foot in length. 

Habitat: Equipped with thick fur to keep them warm, Arctic Foxes are found in the Arctic tundra and pack ice where the ground is permanently frozen with little vegetation available. They can also be found along the edges of forests in Northern parts of Europe, Canada, and Alaska. 

Diet: Arctic Foxes are omnivorous. These creatures are capable of hunting small, quick mammals like lemmings, hares, and birds. Because of the cold nature of their environment, Arctic foxes have adapted multiple feeding habits, such as digging underground to find vegetation and/or dead carcasses. When prey populations are low, Arctic Foxes turn to berries and plants to make up their diet. 

Behavior: What may come as a surprise to some is that the Arctic Fox does not hibernate during the winter. This animal braves the cold year-round by itself. Although the Arctic Fox is considered a solitary creature by many, the Arctic Fox does occasionally travel in a pack which usually consists of its family members. Arctic Foxes are monogamous and raise their litter of 5-8 pups, although some litters include up to 25 pups!

Conservation Status: Listed as Least Concern, there are more than half a million Arctic Foxes left in the world. However, in several Nordic regions, populations have sunk as low as 200 individuals; in Finland, the Arctic Fox is actually listed as critically endangered. Arctic foxes are most affected by hunters, climate change, and falls in the prey population. 

Unique Traits: Perhaps the hallmark characteristic of the Arctic Fox is its signature snow-colored coat. However, the Arctic Fox doesn't don this coat the throughout the year. In the summer, the Arctic Fox's coat becomes a tawny golden-brown so it can camouflage into its new surroundings. In the winters, the Arctic Fox's white coat allows it to blend into its snowy environment. And when the white melts away, the Arctic Fox adapts. Its coat color changes around every six months. 

Arctic Foxes have adapted in other ways too. Although their fur does play a key part in keeping them warm, Arctic Foxes have developed rounded body shapes to preserve body heat more effectively. When resting, the Arctic Fox will curl up tightly, protecting its legs and head in a ball of fluff. 







Norway and Sweden join forces to save Arctic fox - Lonely Planet

Arctic Fox - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Arctic fox - Wikipedia

Arctic Fox - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts (animals.net)

Arctic Fox | Species | WWF (worldwildlife.org)

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