Mary Allen
His varied diet ranges from mice, arctic hares, birds, and their eggs to mussels, sea urchins, and dead seals. Basically, the arctic fox kills its prey from an ambush. If it has enough to eat in the summer, it also stocks up – for the winter days.
Are arctic foxes herbivores?
Arctic foxes feed on lemmings, rabbits, mice, birds, berries, insects, and carrion.
What do arctic foxes drink?
It feeds on arctic hares, snow grouse, lemmings, fish, birds, and mice.
Is the arctic fox an omnivore?
In addition to carrion, its diet consists of lemmings, mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, and various birds and their eggs. Coastal arctic foxes feed on fish, crustaceans, and carcasses of various marine animals that wash ashore.
What are arctic foxes good at?
The fact that arctic fox fur changes color throughout the year means they are always well camouflaged and able to sneak up on their prey. With their wide (but short) ears, arctic foxes can hear the movement of their prey even under snow.
What are the enemies of arctic foxes?
In general, the arctic fox has a life expectancy of about four years. Apart from humans, natural enemies are primarily the arctic wolf and occasionally the polar bear, to which it keeps a distance.
How many children do arctic foxes have?
They stay in the cave for 3-4 weeks. Incidentally, arctic fox pairs stay together for life, defend their territory together, and take care of the rearing of the young together. When an arctic fox gives birth to cubs, there are often 5-8 at a time.
Are arctic foxes protected?
The wild European populations of arctic and arctic foxes are strictly protected under the Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
Are arctic foxes solitary?
Outside of the mating season, the arctic fox lives as a loner or in small family groups. It lives in burrows, which it digs itself in ice-free places in the ground.
Why is the arctic fox white?
Brown in summer, white in winter. Some animals change the color of their fur to camouflage themselves. This allows them to better hide from enemies.
How old does an arctic fox get?
| Latin name: | Vulpes lagobus – also known as arctic fox |
| Colour: | white winter fur, dark gray summer fur |
| Special feature: | changing fur, cold-resistant |
| Size: | 30 cm |
| Length: | 90 cm |
| Weight: | 3 to 6 kg |
| Food: | Lemmings, rabbits, mice, birds, berries, insects, carrion |
| enemies: | arctic wolf, grizzly bear, snowy owl, polar bear |
| Life expectancy: | 12 to 15 years |
| gestation period: | a little less than two months |
| Number of young animals: | 3 to 8 |
| male animal: | male |
| female animal | fey |
| Hatchling: | puppy |
| Where to find: | Tundra, snow desert, settlement areas |
| Distribution: | Northern Europe, Alaska, Siberia |
What does the arctic fox do in winter?
winter fur. In winter, the arctic fox wraps its bushy tail around itself like a scarf. It can also survive extreme temperatures of up to minus 50 degrees Celsius. The fur on the soles protects the paws and makes walking on snow and ice easier.
How do arctic foxes mate?
Arctic foxes become sexually mature at around one year old. The female digs a spacious burrow in suitable clay or sand mounds as early as late winter. In March and April she is then ready to mate. Once a male and female have found each other, they live together monogamously for the rest of their lives.
Is the arctic fox active at night?
Way of life. The arctic fox is considered active both day and night. Arctic foxes have territories, the size of which adapts to the food supply and density.
Who was called the arctic fox?
Arctic foxes go by the scientific name Vulpus lagopus. Translated, this means “rabbit-footed fox”. The paws are covered with fur like those of the arctic hare. The wild dogs live in northern Europe, Russia, and Canada, as well as in Alaska and Greenland, especially in the tundras.
How does the fox feed?
However, its main diet consists of voles and other small rodents. In addition, it eats earthworms, and beetles, but also birds and their clutches, as well as fallen fruit and berries in autumn. It rarely eats hoofed animals (e.g. deer), but eats them as carrion.
How long can a fox live?
3 – 4 years