10 Arctic fox facts)

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Arctic foxes are one of the more common species we encounter during our trips to Svalbard and Greenland. This photogenic animal often appears below bird cliffs or on the tundra at the edge of forests. It is a favorite of our wildlife photographers, both for how often it appears as well as how adorably it fills out a photo.

In this fact-filled video, we discuss some of the distinguishing features of the Arctic fox:

1. Arctic foxes go by many names, including white foxes, snow foxes, and polar foxes. A small portion (3 – 10%) has a yearlong charcoal-colored coat and goes by “blue foxes.”
2. They grow to about 75 – 100 cm (2.4 – 3.3 feet) in length.
3. Arctic foxes are usually quite lean, weighing only 2 – 5 kg (5 – 11 pounds).
4. These foxes have a wide habitat, extending into Arctic and sub-Arctic regions within Greenland, Svalbard, Siberia, North America, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland.
5. Arctic foxes prefer to feed on small animals that can’t put up much of a fight, such as baby chicks fallen from their nests, fish, berries, carrion, eggs, and small invertebrates.
6. These well-insulated vulpini have one of the warmest coats on the planet, helping them survive Arctic temperatures down to -80°C (-112°F).
7. Arctic foxes are also quite fast, able to make short bursts around 50 kph (31 mph).
8. Their fur changes with the seasons, going white in winter and gray-brown in summer.
9. Arctic foxes don’t let distances get in the way of their feeding, commonly traveling several thousand km / miles for food.
10. They are not terribly long-lived, however, surviving only about three to six years in the wild.

If you’re interested in learning more about these attractive animals, see our Arctic fox highlight page (https://bit.ly/3zHFole) and detailed article (https://bit.ly/3BUyTgU). You can also find out how to see them in person at our website (https://bit.ly/3l4FC1W).