Arctic foxes may be small, but they are fearless and this, along with their cunning intelligence, is the key to their survival in the frozen Arctic Circle.
The Arctic fox, also known as white fox, polar fox or snow fox , was top of my wildlife wish list when I visited the Arctic Circle.
Svalbard
This epic landscape is harsh and unforgiving and yet it teams with wildlife. Thousands of breeding seabirds clamour on its towering cliffs, providing plenty of food for the Arctic Fox. In winter Arctic foxes have a thick, white coat, but here they are sporting their mottled summer fur, perfectly camouflaged against the tundra and rocky terrain.
Fearless
Watching a male nimbly scale a sheer cliff, leaping effortlessly between ledges, is incredible. Small sized fox When this arctic fox catches a kittiwake you get a sense of scale. This fox species' short, rounded shape is an adaptation to this cold environment since it helps reduce heat loss.
Arctic summer
It’s important for foxes to make the most of this summer bounty, ensuring they can put on plenty of weight for the tough winter months ahead. This fox has a family. It's cubs would have been born in late spring, emerging from the den four weeks later. One is a rare blue morph… it won’t turn white for winter, staying dark all year round. Watching the foxes chase and tumble, the lessons learned at this young age are clear: more aggressive pups get first dibs on food and sleeping spots, increasing their own chances of survival.
Family dynamics
Both fox parents care for the young but this male is working hard to provide. The seabirds are plentiful now, but arctic foxes also eat insects, seaweed and carrion, such as reindeer carcasses. These cunning creatures have also been known to follow hunting polar bears to scavenge their leftovers. Even more impressive once you know the polar bear is the Arctic fox’s only predator on Svalbard.
