All profits made at WildlifeoPedia are donated to charities protecting wildlife. You can help nature by checking out what you can do, here! 🐨🦤🌿🏞️

Arctic Fox Profile

Photo retrieved from Yukon Wildlife Preserve

Source: Dimensions.com

"Through blizzards and silence, I survive with the warmth of resilience."

Estimated Population: ~ 630,000 (2023)

✦ A.I-Generated Summary ▼

The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is a small but incredibly resilient predator, perfectly adapted to survive the harsh Arctic tundra. Known for its seasonal camouflage, it switches from a thick white winter coat to a brown or grey summer coat, blending seamlessly with snow, rocks, and tundra. Agile, stealthy, and clever, this fox thrives in one of the coldest environments on Earth, showcasing remarkable adaptability and survival skills.

Key Points:

Diet & Lifestyle: Primarily carnivorous, Arctic foxes hunt small mammals like lemmings, voles, and Arctic hares, as well as birds and fish. They scavenge leftovers from larger predators and occasionally eat berries or seaweed. With acute hearing and precise hunting techniques, they can leap and pounce to catch prey hidden beneath snow. They also cache surplus food, storing up to 30% of their body weight to survive harsh winters.
Physical Traits & Adaptations: Small, compact bodies, bushy tails, and fur-covered soles minimize heat loss. They can survive temperatures as low as −50 °C. Males are slightly larger than females, and both sexes are agile and fast, reaching up to 50 km/h in short bursts.
Reproduction: Breeding occurs once a year, timed so pups are born in spring. Litters range from 5–10 pups, sometimes up to 14, with weaning around 3–4 weeks. Mothers provide intensive care to ensure high survival rates in extreme conditions.
Behavior & Social Structure: Mostly solitary except during breeding, Arctic foxes communicate through vocalizations, body language, and scent marking. They reuse dens for decades and defend territories against intruders, yet tolerate neighbors when food is abundant.
Role In The Ecosystem: Arctic foxes regulate small mammal populations, preventing overgrazing, and provide food for larger predators by scavenging. Their adaptability makes them vital to Arctic food webs.
Threats & Conservation: Listed as Least Concern (IUCN), but some populations face risks from climate change and habitat disruption. Warming reduces snow cover, affecting camouflage and hunting, while red fox competition adds pressure. Protecting Arctic habitats is key to sustaining their populations. Learn how you can help.

Final Note:
The Arctic fox is more than a master of survival—it is a guardian of the Arctic tundra. By balancing prey populations and supporting the broader food web, it sustains the fragile ecosystems of the North. Ensuring their conservation not only protects this iconic species but also preserves the icy wilderness they call home for generations to come.

ARCTIC FOX VITAL SIGNS BAR,

For a quick overview of the arctic fox...

Symbolically Adopt An Arctic Fox At WWF ➤

Return To Center of The WildlifeoProfiles

2. Arctic Fox Profile

Common Name: Arctic Fox
Scientific Name: Vulpes lagopus
Genus: Vulpes
Family: Canidae
Order: Carnivora
Class: Mammalia
Phylum: Chordata
Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN)

Physical Description
Arctic foxes are small, resilient predators perfectly adapted to the frigid Arctic environment. They are best known for their thick, white winter fur, which provides camouflage in snow, and their ability to shrink their extremities in extreme cold to preserve heat. In summer, their coat changes to a brown or grey hue to blend with rocks and tundra.

Height: 30 – 35 cm (at the shoulder)
Length: 46 – 68 cm (without tail)
Weight: 2.5 – 9 kg (females are slightly smaller than males)

Arctic foxes exhibit sexual dimorphism subtly: males tend to be slightly larger and heavier. Their bushy tails, short legs, and rounded ears help minimize heat loss, while their sharp senses make them skilled hunters in harsh conditions.

Habitat
Arctic foxes inhabit the Arctic tundra regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Eurasia. They are highly adaptable and can survive in some of the coldest environments on Earth.

Primary habitat: Arctic tundra, snowfields, coastal areas
Occasional habitats: Boreal forests, ice edges, and rocky outcrops

They rely on dens dug into the ground or snowbanks to shelter from extreme cold and predators. Their survival depends on the availability of prey, which can be seasonal.

Speed & Agility
Though small, Arctic foxes are agile and persistent hunters, able to travel long distances in search of food.

Speed: Up to 50 km/h in short bursts
Hunting ability: Can leap and pounce with precision, using acute hearing to locate prey under snow

Their strategy is patience and stealth, often stalking or leaping to capture rodents beneath the snow.

Diet
Arctic foxes are opportunistic omnivores but primarily carnivorous. They hunt small mammals and birds, scavenge from larger predators, and will eat berries and seaweed when necessary.

Primary prey: Lemmings, voles, Arctic hares, seabirds
Occasional prey: Fish, insects, berries, carrion

They cache surplus food to survive lean winters, showing remarkable foresight.

Behavior and Social Structure
Arctic foxes are mostly solitary outside of the breeding season but communicate using vocalizations, body language, and scent marking. They are territorial but can tolerate other foxes when food is abundant.

Den usage: Often reuse dens for decades
Territorial behavior: Defend den and hunting area against intruders

Fun Fact: Arctic foxes have fur-covered soles on their feet, which act like natural snowshoes!

Reproduction
Arctic foxes breed once a year, timing it so their pups are born in spring when food is more available.

Gestation period: ~52 days
Litter size: 5 – 10 pups (sometimes up to 14)
Weaning: Around 3 – 4 weeks

Pups are born blind and rely entirely on their mother’s care initially. Arctic foxes are fiercely protective and ensure high pup survival in extreme climates.

Did You Know?

Camouflage Experts: Their fur changes color seasonally, which helps them stay hidden from predators and prey alike.
Cold Survivors: Arctic foxes can survive temperatures as low as −50 °C.
Food Strategists: They store up to 30% of their body weight in cached food for harsh winters.
Quick Breeders: Large litters ensure that even with high predation, enough pups survive to maintain the population.

Role in the Ecosystem
Arctic foxes regulate populations of small mammals like lemmings, which prevents overgrazing of tundra vegetation. They also provide food for larger predators, like polar bears, by scavenging leftovers. Their adaptability makes them key players in Arctic food webs.

Why They're At Risk
Least Concern (IUCN), but some populations are vulnerable due to climate change and habitat disruption. Warming temperatures reduce snow cover, which affects camouflage and hunting efficiency, while competition from red foxes moving north adds pressure. Supporting Arctic habitat conservation is crucial for maintaining healthy populations.