Artic Fox
Vulpes lagopus
An arctic fox’s burrow can house generations of foxes and have dozens of entrances.
Did
you
know?
Arctic foxes are amazing animals. Unlike many tundra animals they do not hibernate in the winter. Their fur changes during each season. In the summer, they have brown fur with a lighter colored stomach. This helps them camouflage into the rocks and plants. Once winter comes, their fur turns into a thick white fur. This thick fur enables them to camouflage with the snow and ice. The fur also helps maintain body temperature and provide insulation. They are the only Canidae that changes coat color.
Their thick fur is not the only thing helping them endure the winter. The arctic foxes have short legs, a short muzzle, and rounded ears. These traits all help reduce the amount of surface area for heat loss. Just like the fennec fox they have fur on their feet. This helps the arctic fox walk over the snow and ice without hurting their pads on the bottom of their feet. Their fur is the warmest fur out of all the animals in the arctic. They can endure temperatures as low as -70 °C
Arctic foxes have an interesting tactic for hunting. They follow polar bears and feed on the leftovers that the bear did not eat. This means they are a scavenger. Though they are scavengers, they do still hunt rodents, birds, and fish if they can not find a polar bear to follow.
Fun
Fact!
Though they can be found in a skulk, arctic foxes are primarily solitary animals living on the arctic tundra and packed ice.
