![]() Tragically, most arctic foxes in the wild do not make it to their first birthday. ![]() Thus, their mortality rate surpasses that of foxes residing in a fixed area. ![]() Consequently, due to their increased movement, arctic foxes face a higher risk of encountering predators or becoming targets themselves. In North America, as in Europe, owls (Strigiformes) and hawks (Accipitriformes) take older cubs and occasionally adults. As snow cover decreases, their food supply diminishes, preventing them from building enough fat. However, the most significant danger they face is the changing climate. Besides humans, their main threat comes from polar bears. Remarkably, these foxes can cover extensive distances of up to ninety-six miles in a single day. Other occasional predators of Red foxes include long-tailed weasels ( Mustela frenata ), ermine ( Mustela erminea ), skunks ( Mephitis mephitis ), mink ( Mustela vison) and snakes, all of which may take young fox cubs. The arctic fox (Figure 1) resides primarily in Canada, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Greenland (Angerbjrn & Tannerfeldt, 2014). Arctic foxes are fortunate to have few natural predators in their ecosystem. When food is scarce, these foxes will journey as far as they need to to find something to eat. These dens, sometimes centuries old, are used by multiple generations. They dig intricate burrow systems, also known as dens, which protect the young from predators and harsh weather. Order Carnivora Family Canidae Genus Vulpes Scientific Name Vulpes lagopus Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals. An Arctic fox litter usually consists of 6-8 pups, but some mothers can give birth to as many as 15! Larger litters are common when food is abundant.īoth parents play an active role in rearing their young. Their mating season ranges from April to June, after which the female gives birth to a litter. Their populations fluctuate in response to lemming numbers 3. See photos, videos and stories of this endangered species. There are 8 recognised subspecies of the Arctic fox 2. Like polar bears, arctic foxes build dens not only to protect themselves from predators they also give birth to live young inside the den. Find out why they matter, what threats they face, and what WWF is doing to protect them. The arctic fox makes habitat on the sea ice. Arctic foxes are known for their social behavior, often forming monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Learn about the Arctic fox, a carnivore that lives inland and depends on smaller animals, such as lemmings, for survival.
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