The Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus

On the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands of Alaska, the blue phase affects more Arctic Foxes. In Southern Greenland the number of blue and white colored Arctic Foxes is about equal.

The winter coat of the Arctic Fox makes it look bigger than the fox really is. The thick hair next to its body and lengthy protector hairs serve as sufficient defense against the most savage winter weather.

Arctic Foxes are omnivorous, but feed particularly on small mammals like lemmings, voles, birds like the ptarmigan, bird eggs, seaweed, insects and larvae, seal placentas, plants, carrion of large animals like the caribou and berries. In the Arctic Fox's range, food resources can be abundant in small areas during short time periods. The rodent population determines the food resources available.

Mating usually occurs in April through May, and the young are born after a gestation time of about seven to eight weeks. The litter is anywhere from six to twelve cubs that weigh between two and six ounces. Both parents care for the young foxes and Arctic Foxes begin breeding at about one year old and scientists seem to think them monogamous.

The location of the dens of the Arctic Fox dens is in frost-free ground, in rock piles, often in low mounds of gravel and sand piles in the open tundra. The dens have many exits and entrances and a system of tunnels covering about 130 square feet. Many generations of foxes used the same dens years after year.

On the Island of Mednyi mange affects the Arctic Fox. In Fennoscandia the population of foxes is low because of poor food resources. There are very few lemmings and voles during the summer months in Fennoscandia. Even large animal carcasses are in limited supply that affects the fox negatively.

The Red Fox has moved its territory above the tree line making the Arctic Fox part of its menu. Both the absence of rodents and the increase in range of the Red Fox influences the food supply obtained by the Arctic Fox.

The critical issues affecting the Arctic Fox population are diseases introduced by humans, less rodents in the summer months in certain Arctic regions, the low number of large animal carcasses and the Red Fox increasing its range northwards.

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