Arctic fox - Alopex lagopus

The average length of males is 85 cm, with a range of 83 to 110 cm and for females 82 cm, with a range of 71 to 85 cm. The tail is about 30 cm long. The shoulder height is 25–30 cm.

On average males weigh 3,5 kg, with a range of 3,2 to 9,4 kg, while females average 2,9kg, with a range of 1,4 to 3,2 kg.

Arctic fox

The Arctic fox inhabits the arctic and alpine tundra of Eurasia, the Siberian islands, inland Iceland and Svalbard. It is laso found in the subarctic maritime habitat in the Aleutian island chain, Bering Sea Islands, Commander Islands and coastal Iceland.

The Arctic Fox is an opportunistic predator and scavenger but in most inland areas, the species is heavily dependent on fluctuating rodent populations. The species' main prey items include lemmings, both Lemmus spp. and Dicrostonyx spp. In Fennoscandia, Lemmus lemmus is the main prey in summer, followed by birds and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). In winter, ptarmigan and grouse (Lagopus spp.) are common prey in addition to rodents and reindeer. Changes in fox populations have been observed to follow those of their main prey in three-to five-year cycles.

Foxes living near ice-free coasts have access to both inland prey and sea birds, seal carcasses, fish and invertebrates connected to the marine environment, leading to relatively stable food availability and a more generalist strategy. In late winter and summer, foxes found in coastal Iceland feed on seabirds (Uria aalge, U. lomvia), seal carcasses and marine invertebrates. Inland foxes rely more on ptarmigan in winter, and migrant birds, such as geese and waders, in summer. In certain areas, foxes rely on colonies of Arctic geese, which can dominate their diet locally.

Carcasses left by larger predators such as polar bears are often scavenged by arctic foxes.The life span of an arctic fox is about 12 years.

Foxes tend to form monogamous pairs in the breeding season. Litters are born in the early summer after a gestation period of 53 days and the parents raise the young in a large den. Dens can be complex underground networks, housing many generations of foxes. Young from a previous year's litter may stay with the parents to help rear younger siblings. The kits are initially brownish but as they become older they turn white.

Young fox

The world population of arctic foxes is in the order of several hundred thousand animals. Most populations fluctuate widely in numbers between years in response to varying lemming numbers.

Only a few populations have been studied directly. In most areas, however, population status is believed to be good. Within Eurasia, the species is common in the tundra areas of Russia, and Iceland. Exceptions are Fennoscandia, Mednyi Island (Russia) and Pribilof Islands, where populations are at critically low levels. On the Pribilof Islands, fox populations are now low and appear to be declining further. Vagrant Arctic Foxes are common over the northern sea-ice where they follow polar bears as scavengers.

Globally, the arctic fox population is stable and it is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

• Fennoscandia: around 120 adults (endangered)
• Medny Island (Russian Federation): reduced by some 85-90%, to around 90 animals, as a result of mange caused by an ear tick introduced by dogs in the 1970s
• Russian federation total: tens of thousands, but due to the fluctuating nature of the species in relation to prey availability exact estimates are difficult to formulate
• Iceland: around 10,000 animals and increasing

• Finland
• Norway
• Russia

• Hardangervidda

The southern edge of the species' distribution range may have moved somewhat north during the 20th century resulting in a smaller total range.

During the last glaciation, the arctic fox had a distribution along the ice edge, and arctic fox remains have been found in a number of Pleistocene deposits over most of Europe and large parts of Siberia. However, recent historical changes in range have not been particularly significant.

The arctic fox has a circumpolar distribution in all Arctic tundra habitats. It breeds north of and above the tree line on the Arctic tundra in Eurasia and on the alpine tundra in Fennoscandia. The species inhabits most Arctic islands but only some islands in the Bering Strait. The Arctic Fox was also introduced to previously isolated islands in the Aleutian chain at the end of the 19th century by fur industry. It has also been observed on the sea ice up to the North Pole.

Hunting for fur has long been a major mortality factor for the arctic fox. With the decline of the fur hunting industry, the threat of over-exploitation is lowered for most arctic fox populations. In some areas gene swamping by farm-bred blue foxes may threaten native populations. There can also be indirect threats such as diseases and organochlorine contaminants, or direct persecution.

The arctic fox remains the single most important terrestrial game species in the Arctic. Indigenous peoples have always utilized its exceptional fur; and with the advent of the fur industry, it quickly became an important source of income. Today, leg-hold traps and shooting are the main hunting methods. Because of their large reproductive capacity, arctic foxes can maintain population levels under high hunting pressure. In some areas, up to 50% of the total population has been harvested on a sustainable basis. However, this does not allow for hunting during population lows, as shown by the situation in Fennoscandia. The Arctic Fox has nevertheless survived high fur prices better than most other arctic mammals. Hunting has declined considerably in the last decades, as a result of low fur prices and alternative sources of income.

The arctic fox occurs widely in captivity on fur farms and has been bred for fur production for over 70 years. The present captive population originates from a number of wild populations and has been bred for characteristics different from those found in the wild, including large size. Escaped "blue" foxes may already be a problem in Fennoscandia (and to a lesser extent in Iceland) due to gene swamping.

• WWF - Panda
  WWF's work in the Arctic region aims to ensure the fragile ecosystems are supported and protected. WWF's work to mitigate the effects of climate change aims to ensure that species such as the Arctic fox are not adversely affected by changes to the climate.
• SEFALO - Swedish - Finnish - Norwegian conservation project
  The project is a co-operation between Stockholm University (SU), the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), the Swedish County Administration Boards (CABs) in Jämtland, Västerbotten and Norrbotten, the Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla (FFRI), the District of Northern Lapland Park and Forestry Service Metsähallitus (PFS) in Finland, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU), Swedish National Veterinary Institute (NVI), Fjällräven AB, Lapplandsafari AB, Fjällhästen AB and Ramundberget Alpina AB.
• Polar Conservation Organisation (PCO)
  The Polar Conservation Organisation (PCO) is a registered non-profit foundation, committed to working with and engaging industry players, communicating and educating the public and pressuring government organisations in the development of the necessary social, political and economic frameworks to ensure a sustainable future for both Polar Regions. In order achieve this objective, the PCO has and continues to develop specific projects and programs that target these areas.

Please email photos and figures that may be used in further publications to info at largeherbivore dot org

To illustrate this webpage (and for the sake of the protection of these animals) we have made use of photos of which it is not always clear who is the possessor of the credits and rights. If you feel yourself infringed in your rights or if you know the source of a photo, please let us know.