Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Easy

The **Arctic Fox** (*Vulpes lagopus*) is a small Holarctic canine featured in the *Planet Zoo* North America Animal Pack.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In The Wild: 110,000**

The Arctic fox is a small species of canid that lives in the Arctic regions and Alpine tundra of Canada, the USA, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. In the winter, most Arctic foxes have a thick, white coat that insulates them from extreme temperatures. In summer, their coat is brown or dark grey, pale on the underside, and is much thinner. A small percentage of the population stays brown in both winter and summer, known as blue morphs. The Arctic fox has broad rounded ears, small amber eyes, and a small black nose. They stand 10 to 12in tall at the shoulder and have a tail length of 10 to 12in. Males have a head-body length of 18 to 27.2in and weigh between 7 and 20.6lb, at an average of 7.7lb. Females are slightly smaller, with a head-body length of 16 to to 22in and weigh between 3 and 7lb, averaging 6.4 Arctic foxes are not endangered.

### Social

Arctic foxes are social animals that live in family packs. In an average pack, there is an alpha male and alpha female, their young adult offspring and a litter of pups less than a year old

### Reproduction

In an Arctic fox pack, there is an alpha male and an alpha female and their 1st and 2st generation offspring. Packs are familial. The alphas are monogamous and usually do not mate with any other individuals, although promiscuity may occur when there is an abundance of food. As the female is approaching oestrus, the alpha male and alpha female will bond. They will spend time close to each other and play together. The female fox will have 3-5 fertile days in the breeding season. The hormonal changes and smell of her urine will alert the alpha male to her receptive state. The alphas will mate multiple times during this period. Mating and breeding depend heavily on food availability. Arctic fox numbers in the wild are strongly linked to the abundance of lemmings. In an abundant year, Arctic foxes will mate numerous times and the female is more likely to give birth to a large litter. Non-alphas may also mate and reproduce. During a year with scarce food, foxes will have smaller litters or may not mate at all.

Alphas will have one litter in years when there is enough food. On average, they will have a litter of 3-9 pups, but extremely large of up to 18 are possible, and there are accounts of litters of 25 cubs. Arctic foxes live in a complex den that often has many entrances and is on the raised ground away from frost. The vixen will give birth to her cubs in the den after a pregnancy of 36 to 58 days.

The cubs remain in the den for 3-4 weeks with their mother, who is provided for by the alpha male. Weaning begins at 3-4 weeks when the cubs first begin venturing out of the den. Weaning is complete by the time the cubs are 9 weeks old. Arctic foxes reach sexual maturity at 10 months old. Most foxes will leave the pack soon after sexual maturity or when there is a new litter. Often one adult female will stay behind and help care for the cubs

Arctic foxes that have recently left their pack may live alone or in sibling groups for a time. Lone foxes may partner up with another lone fox of the opposite sex and search for territory. Once located, these two foxes will start their own pack and become the alpha male and alpha female

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Bamboo Feeder · Skittle Feeder
Blood Scent Marker · Curio Ball · Small Bubble Machine · Sprinkler · Tennis Ball · Cardboard Box · Gift Box

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* The Arctic fox is the only native land mammal found in Iceland.
* Arctic fox paw pads are completely covered in fur, giving them their Latin species name 'lagopus', meaning 'rabbit foot'.
* Arctic foxes and lemming have interlinked cyclical population density, meaning the abundance of both species is highly dependent on the other.
* The Arctic fox may build up its body fat by 50% in the autumn in order to survive the Arctic winter.
* The Arctic fox must deal with a temperature difference of up to 212°F between its internal body temperature and the environmental temperature.

## Gallery

The Arctic Fox first revealed in the Road Trip EventBlue Morph Artic FoxMaiken Woxholt's Art