Species · GBIF taxon 5219303
Arctic Fox
Vulpes lagopusAlso known as White Fox, Polar Fox, Snow Fox
Arctic foxes navigate the extreme cold of the northern tundra using a compact, rounded body and heavily furred paws that act like snowshoes. Their coats undergo a dramatic seasonal transformation, shifting from a pristine white or blue-grey in winter to a brown and yellow-grey in summer to match the melting landscape. These resilient predators rely heavily on cyclic lemming populations, sometimes caching hundreds of prey items in the permafrost to survive the lean winter months.
TundraMammalCamouflage
Licensed referenceJonathen Pie https://unsplash.com/@r3dmax / CC0 · cc0
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lemmings
- Voles
- Seabirds
Predators
- Red Fox
- Golden Eagle
- Wolverine
ThreatsClimate change, competition with expanding red foxes, and disease
HabitatsArctic tundra, pack ice, and coastal cliffs
Life spanTypically 1 to 4 years in the wild, occasionally up to 11 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesVulpes lagopus
Native
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and may bite if cornered; maintain a respectful distance at all times.
- Why it is dangerous
- Can carry Arctic rabies, a viral disease transmitted through saliva that is fatal to humans and pets if untreated.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for unusually bold behavior, disorientation, or foaming at the mouth.
- What to do
- Never approach a wild fox, and report any strangely behaving individuals to local wildlife authorities.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Avoid approaching den sites, especially during the spring pup-rearing season.
- Do Not Feed: Feeding habituates foxes to humans, increasing their vulnerability to traffic and disease.
- Watch for Tracks: Look for neat, single-file paw prints in the snow, which help them conserve energy.
Competitor "Red Fox" by Mike's Birds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Prey 
Frequent Companion Alan Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Stacey Robert Greenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Stacey Robert Greenstein · cc-by-sa
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