World of the Wolf - Alopex lagopus

Alopex lagopus - Arctic fox
Range: Arctic of North America and Eurasia
Size: 7.5 lb (3.5 kg)

The arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), lives farther north than any other canid species. It has a wide distribution over the arctic, ranging throughout the higher latitudes of North America and Eurasia. It is a medium sized fox, averaging around 7.5 lb (3.5 kg). It has very soft, thick fur which shields it from the Arctic cold. Since it spends most of its life walking on ice, even the soles of its feet are completely covered with hair. The ears are short, and also heavily insulated by fur. The bushy tail is very long in proportion to the body, and can be wrapped around the face for added protection.

The arctic fox has two colour variations, a white and a blue form. In a population, the proportion of individuals of each form varies depending upon geographical region. The fox's coat starts to change over to its winter phase in autumn. White foxes turn even whiter, and the the bluish ones become a very pale shade of blue. When spring arrives, transition to the summer coat begins. As the winter coat is gradually shed, the white colour form of the arctic fox becomes a rather dull greyish brown, and the blue foxes turn dark brown.

Lemmings, a small arctic rodent, are one of the staples of the arctic fox's diet. They also catch birds, and readily eat fish and other marine animals. Like most other fox species, Alopex is quite opportunistic. This habit helps aid survival in any arctic mammal, where opportunities for meals can be unpredictable. The loss of the Arctic wolf in many areas has had an impact on the lives of Arctic foxes, as they frequently used to scavenge upon the remains of large prey killed by the wolves. When food is readily available, Arctic foxes will often cache it for later.

Arctic foxes excavate large dens which may be used repeatedly by multiple generations. This continuous reuse of dens is thought in some cases to span over several centuries, but such long term instances are likely rare.

The Arctic fox occurs in large numbers over a wide geographical area, and is not considered threatened over most of its range. However, one subspecies, A. lagopus semenovi, is close to extinction due to excessive trapping in past times, along with introduced diseases such as mange. The subspecies occurs only on the island of Mednij, off the northeastern coast of the former Soviet Union. Surveys indicate that over 100 still live on the island, and hopefully the population will increase.