![]() ![]() ![]() These factors are likely to result in fewer peak cycles of rodents and therefore less prey for the inland arctic foxes. Mild weather and wet snow lead to these burrows collapsing and ice crust formation makes food plants inaccessible 10 (source: ICUN). Arctic foxes do not need to hibernate as they are still able to hunt lemmings in the winter along with other sources such as carcasses left behind by polar bears. Lemmings do not hibernate in winter and rely on snow burrows to protect them from harsh weather conditions. However, peak lemming years have been fewer and far between since 1994 in some regions such as Norweigian alpine, a trend that has been linked to climate change and is likely to expand to other regions 9 (source: Linking climate change to lemming cycles, 2008). They have adapted by aligning reproduction with peak lemming cycles. ![]() The lemming population has always fluctuated with peaks every 3-5 years leading to an unstable diet for inland arctic foxes. Those found inland will primarily feed on small rodents such as lemmings and voles, whereas those in coastal areas will feed on seabirds, fish, and other marine invertebrates 8 (source: Journal of Zoology Vol 251, Issue 2, Feb 2006). Let’s take a look at each of these: Changes in Prey AbundanceĪrctic foxes have two different diets depending upon where they live. These include changes in prey, habitat loss, melting sea ice, and more predators. Most of the reasons that arctic foxes are endangered in certain areas can be traced back to climate change. Estimates suggest that the white morph accounts for 99% of the total population 7 (source: Wikipedia). There are two types, the common white morph arctic fox and a rarer blue morph arctic fox which is found in coastal areas. For example, in Sweden, numbers dropped as low as just 30 in 1980 but thanks to the efforts of the WWF and other organizations this is now on the rise 5 (source: WWF).Įven areas such as Iceland where the population has been rising since monitoring began in 1979 have started to experience a fall since 2010 6 (source: Icelandic Magazine). However, those found in Fennoscandia are considerably lower. These are mostly found in Canada and Alaska. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that there are several hundred thousand arctic foxes left in the world 4 (source: WWF) and other estimates put the number somewhere between 330,000 – 930,000. How Many Arctic Foxes Are Left in the World? However, conservation efforts are attempting to bring them back to Finland with some seen denning in the country for the first time since 1996 although they have not yet bred in the country 3 (source: WWF). Arctic foxes are classified as critically endangered in Norway, endangered in Sweden, and are extinct in Finland 2 (source: Polar Research, A. However, specific populations in Fennoscandia are facing trouble. ![]() In most regions where arctic foxes are found, they are abundant with those living on islands in the arctic and at high altitudes being the safest as they will be among the last to face changes in their habitat. This means they have had their population evaluated and are not classed as being threatened or near threatened. No, the arctic fox has been rated as ‘least concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which means they are not an endangered species 1 (source: ICUN). ![]()
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