Arctic Fox

Arctic foxes are clever hunters and eat a variety of foods. They usually prefer small mammals but will also eat insects, berries, and carrion, which means dead animals or leftover food from other predators. In winter, especially for those living near the coast, their diet includes marine mammals, invertebrates, sea birds, and fish. Arctic foxes that live more inland and during warmer months mainly eat lemmings and birds that migrate. In the summer, when food is easier to find, they often gather extra food and hide it in holes they dig in the ground to eat later. This is called caching.

At the Zoo, Arctic foxes receive quail, mice, fish, rabbits, eggs, and sometimes other food-based enrichment.

This species can be found throughout the Arctic, extending across Eurasia, North America, Greenland, and Iceland.

Arctic foxes prefer Arctic and alpine tundra habitat, usually in coastal areas. This species also extends its range over sea ice.

Predators include red fox, wolverine, golden eagles, and humans.

Hunting fur has historically contributed to population declines, but that threat has reduced greatly in modern times. Now, Arctic foxes face different challenges, including sea ice loss due to climate change and increased spread in diseases and parasites in some populations. Additionally, some people trap or poison these foxes because they think they are a "nuisance" or a problem.

The Arctic fox is known for its white winter coat, which helps it blend in with the snow. In the summer, its fur changes to a grayish-brown color with a lighter belly to match the rocks, soil, and plants around it. In areas where the weather is milder, Arctic foxes may keep their darker fur throughout the year.

This fox has a thick, woolly coat that keeps it warm in extremely cold temperatures, even as low as -58 degrees Fahrenheit. During the warmer months, it sheds some of its undercoat, making its fur much less thick. The fox’s round and compact body shape helps it reduce the amount of skin exposed to the cold air. Other special features include small ears that are heavily lined with fur and a short nose, both of which help keep heat inside its body. The Arctic fox also has increased blood flow to its foot pads to help prevent freezing. Its paws are covered in dense fur during winter, which is why it's sometimes called "lagopus," meaning "rabbit-footed." When food is hard to find, the Arctic fox can slow down its metabolism by half while staying active. This ability helps it save energy, giving it more time to hunt for food.

Arctic foxes are known to mate for life. Their mating season usually takes place between April and July. They typically have one litter of pups born from April to June and sometimes a second litter in July or August. After the first litter is born, the male fox will mate with the female again a few weeks later. The gestation period, which is how long the female is pregnant, lasts about two months, and they usually have between 5 to 8 pups each time.

The pups are born in dens, which are complex tunnels that provide safety from predators. Some of these dens are very old and have been used by many generations of foxes. They can have multiple entrances, with some dens featuring 4 to 8 openings. Both the male and female foxes help take care of the pups. The female stays with the pups in the den during the first three weeks, providing milk, while the male hunts and brings food back. As the pups start eating more solid food, the female also joins in hunting for food. Sometimes, a female fox from the previous year will help the parents with the puppies. The young foxes typically leave the den and become independent when they are about 8 to 10 weeks old.

During the breeding season, Arctic fox pairs become very protective of their territory. They mark the boundaries with urine and use different sounds and body language, like holding their tails up high, to communicate. Additionally, Arctic foxes have special glands under their fur that give off strong odors, and their urine is especially stinky, often compared to the smell of a skunk spray.

Their sounds can vary; they might let out a loud yowl to communicate over long distances or a high-pitched warning sound if they sense danger nearby.

Arctic foxesare social and regularly forming small groups to scavenge for food. They do not hibernate during the winter months.