The Arctic Fox

The Arctic Fox is an amazing and graceful animal. It is a mammal and is omnivorous, meaning it eats meat and
plants. An arctic foxes scientific name is Vulpes Lagopus. An Arctic fox will usually live up to 3 to 6 years.
Varying on the fox they will weigh up to 2.9 to 7.7 Kg. They can live in -50°C.

Adaptations
The arctic fox has a short muzzle, short ears, and furry soles which helps it adapt to the environment in winter.
The arctic fox has a white coat in winter which helps it camouflage when trying to catch prey and hide from
predators. An arctic foxes coat changes colour in different seasons to help it blend in with their environment.
The arctic fox will dig a shelter in winter and snowy weather to stay warm. An arctic fox has shorter legs,
shorter ears and shorter tail, this means that there is less surface area to lose heat from. The arctic fox will
store its food underground.

Diet
The arctic foxes diet consists of two different types of food plants and animal. The majestic fox will usually eat
small animals such as voles, birds, fish and other small mammals. When food is scarce the fox will eat berries,
seaweed, the leftover meat from polar bears and wolves, larvae. An arctic fox will track wolf or polar bear for
days just to get their leftovers. An arctic fox has to master hunting if it wants to survive through the winter
days, but hunting is very hard. Firstly, you have to know when the snow is perfect not to deep not to shallow.
You have also got to be able to hear the animal you’re hunting. An arctic fox will travel hundreds of kilometres
each day just to find food.

Habitat
During summer the fox will live in the tundra at the edge of the forest. Tundra meaning where the tree growth
hinders by low temperature. In winter they will live on ice floes, its white fur acts as camouflage against
predators. The arctic fox’s den is usually a burrow with many entrances.
Breeding
The breeding season of an arctic fox starts from early September, to early May. The gestation (the period of
development of embryo, fetus, inside animals) period is 52 days. The litters are usually 5 to 8, but some get to
25. Both parents help raise their children. Large dens are used to breed in. Dens can have 4 to 12 openings ,
but some even get up to 100 openings.