Arctic fox
Few species are as iconic as the arctic fox. Up to about 1980, it was a common species in eastern Finnmark, but after that, observations became very rare.
Today, you're lucky if you catch a glimpse of an arctic fox – despite the fact that substantial amounts of money are spent each year to increase its population.
What makes it so difficult for the arctic fox to survive, and what are we doing to help it?
The Arctic Fox on the Varanger Peninsula
Due to its valuable fur, arctic foxes were excessively hunted, and the species was protected in Norway as early as 1930. Nevertheless, the population has continued to decline. Now it is on the Red List as endangered (EN).
The causes for the lack of recovery of the arctic fox population are complex, but important factors are likely linked to climate change.
Gain insight into the life of an arctic fox in the videos Storm and Tinde, produced by the Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet):
Climate change affects the availability of food for various species, which in turn has consequences for the arctic fox.
Our research has revealed an increase in red fox abundance and a decline in lemmings as major factors that affect the arctic fox.
Lemmings are not only the arctic fox's favorite food; the arctic fox also depends on good lemming years to get enough food to be able to have pups.
Climate change reduces the availability of food for small rodents in the winter, and lemming peaks occur less frequently and are not as large as before.
Fewer lemmings mean that the arctic fox loses access to important food resources it needs to be able to raise pups.
The red fox is becoming more common in the North. Part of the reason is increased human activity in the mountains and the fact that more reindeer die on their winter pastures for various reasons (including changes in winter climate).
More reindeer carcasses provide better access to food for scavengers like the red fox. The red fox is larger and stronger than the arctic fox and drives it away from both food and dens.
It has even been observed that red foxes kill arctic foxes.
Photo: Ice on the ground: Jan Erik Knutsen, dead reindeer: Rolf A. Ims, dead lemming: Rolf A. Ims, red fox: Geir Vie, and arctic fox: Laurent Demongin.
How we help the Arctic fox
Measures to strengthen the arctic fox population on the Varanger Peninsula
Breeding and release of arctic fox pups; a total of 64 pups were released in the years 2018-2020 by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).
Establishment of feeding stations where the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO) provides arctic foxes with supplementary food (dog pellets).
Increased hunting of red foxes to reduce competition for food and denning areas for the arctic fox.
Arctic fox pups documented at dens and at feeding stations with our wildlife cameras. Photo: coat.no
Culling of red foxes is one of the measures taken to preserve the arctic fox. Limiting the Red Fox Population
Culling of red foxes is done both professionally by the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate and with the help of local hunters. If they deliver a fox carcass for research purposes to COAT, they receive compensation.
We do also research on red foxes to understand what causes the population to grow and spread into arctic fox habitats. Scroll further to see how this is done!
Follow the Red fox live!
Photo: Svein JohannessenHere you see Thorsen, an adult male fox that stayed in Smelror near Vardø for most of the summer of 2021. The marking is clearly visible in his thin summer coat.
We have put GPS collars on some red foxes to monitor their movements. On the map, you can see where our red foxes are located right now.
Uhcci Biret, a young female caught at Svartnesodden, is released after being fitted with a GPS collar. The collar was somewhat unfamiliar at first. But, like dogs, the foxes also quickly get used to wearing collars.
How do we keep an eye on the arctic foxes?
Wildlife cameras are set up at dens during the summer and at feeding stations year round. This allows us to see how many pups the families in the different dens have had.
The images from the wildlife cameras also provide information about whether predators such as eagles or red foxes appear. They can attack and take pups.
The Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO) conducts annual checks of dens, where they register activity and collect DNA in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA).
Analysis of dead red foxes provides information about their age, reproduction, genetics, and diet. On the next page, you can see how the arctic fox population in Varanger is developing.
In 2024, 6 arctic fox litters and 13 pups were registered on the Varanger Peninsula.
The graph to the right shows the number of arctic fox litters and pups, as well as the population of lemmings in Varanger over the last few decades.
Comparing the trends of the two species, it is clear that the arctic fox fares better in years with many lemmings.
The red line indicates when we began culling red foxes, and the blue marks at the bottom right represent the three years we have released arctic fox pups.
What does the fox say?
Answer the questions about arctic fox sounds.
