Arctic Fox

Scientific Name

Vulpes lagopus

Habitat

This fox lives in the North in the Arctic tundra. In Canada, this means in northern Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and, of course, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon. It is also found in northern Europe and northern Asia. Because it can travel over long stretches of land and ice looking for food, the Arctic Fox can have a large territory of as much as 25 square kilometres.

Size and colour

The Arctic Fox is the smallest wild canid (the fox, wolf, and dog family) in Canada. It’s the size of a house cat! During the cold Arctic winters, it grows a heavy white coat, which not only keeps it warm but also helps it camouflage in the snow. The Arctic Fox also has short legs, a short muzzle and small ears, reducing areas where it could lose body warmth. Its feet are covered in fur to keep them warm and toasty! In the spring, when it gets hotter, it moults to a lighter brownish or bluishgrey coat.

Feeding

The Arctic fox is very widespread in the North. Because it is found in so many different areas, it may eat a wide variety of prey depending on where it lives. But the main prey of the Arctic Fox in the Arctic is a small rodent called the lemming. In areas with lemmings, the Arctic Fox population rises and falls alongside the lemming population (when there are fewer lemmings, there are also few foxes). An adult fox caring for its kits may hunt as many as 120 lemmings in one day! In other areas, Arctic Foxes will eat other prey, such as ground squirrels, voles, birds, eggs, carrion and fish.