* Threatened or Endangered
Arctic Fox *
: Alopex lagopus
: Mammal
: Northern and western Alaska and Canada, Russia, Scandinavia and Greenland
: Small mammals including lemmings, hares and voles and carrion
: Weight 6 to 10 lbs.
: Least Concern
• The arctic fox is common in most of its range except in Norway, Sweden, and Finland where the total population numbers just a few hundred or less.
• This small fox is well suited for life in the frozen north. o It has rounded, well-protected ears.
o Thick fur covers its body, including the bottoms of its feet.
o A special heat transfer system also helps to keep it warm.
o They don’t even shiver until it’s at least 97 below zero.
• An excellent sense of hearing enables them to locate rodents that make noise under the snow.
• They pounce to break through the snow to catch the prey.
• They also snatch tidbits from larger prey, when available.