Species of the Month

Winter returned with a vengeance this week as the temperature dropped to single digits with a wind chill in the minus zone. Arctic air pushed down and along with icicles and dreams of tropical paradise, it provided the inspiration for the species of the month, the Arctic fox. This cunning critter enjoys a polar vortex much more than I do!

Arctic fox (Environment and Natural Resources, Northwest Terr.)

Scientific name: Vulpes lagopus

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Range: Circumpolar- Canada, Alaska, Greenland, northern Europe, northern Asia

Habitat: Arctic tundra

Lifespan: 3-6 years on average

Diet: Small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, berries, carrion, dung

Predators: Red fox, humans

Conservation Status: No special protection

Arctic fox (USFWS)

Other Information: Arctic foxes, unlike other canids, have furry feet. In the cold north, that is a valuable asset. Colors change seasonally, from a summer coat of gray to a white winter coat. They live in a family group in a den with multiple openings and a tunnel system. A breeding pair and a female offspring from the previous litter, plus the new pups, make up the family group. The older offspring helps raise her younger siblings as a tradeoff for food and shelter. This behavior is also seen in some bird species, and that female has been statistically shown to have a higher survival rate of her own future litters. Arctic foxes are opportunistic feeders, eating anything that comes along. Carrion feasts have been known to include seafood such as fish and seals. A favorite small mammal meal is the lemming. They are hunted for fur and as a livestock pest in Iceland.
This week's information once again comes from University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web.