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10 Cool Facts About Arctic Foxes

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It's easy to make assumptions about arctic animals, but the arctic fox has some habits and attributes that may surprise you. These arctic fox facts for kids are sure to make these little creatures seem even more interesting.

They're Adapted for Arctic Life

The iconic white fur that sets arctic foxes apart from other fox species is no accident. Rather, it's an adaptation that makes it possible for these little predators to stay camouflaged and warm. Other features, like their short snouts and relatively small ears, help keep them protected from the cold.

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They Have Houses

Although their coats are optimized to keep them warm when they're out hunting, arctic foxes don't spend all their time out in the open. They're known to live in habitats where it can get down to nearly -50 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's understandable that they have little underground dens that they call home.

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They Aren't Endangered

Unlike some other arctic species, like the polar bear, arctic foxes aren't considered to be in danger of extinction. Arctic fox research shows that their population numbers are actually increasing. Humans were once a threat to arctic foxes, which were hunted for their fur. Now that animal furs have largely gone out of style, people don't really hunt these foxes very much.

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Amazing Multi-Purpose Tails

Arctic foxes have big, bushy tails. Those tails help arctic foxes balance themselves as they run and jump, but they also serve as a blanket of sorts to help the foxes keep themselves warm.

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They're Omnivores

There isn't usually a ton of food available on the icy tundras that these little animals call home, but that doesn't mean arctic foxes always go hungry. Instead, they eat whatever they can, from small rodents to plants and even the leftovers of bigger predators like polar bears.

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They Shed

Anyone who's lived with a pet dog knows that those domesticated canines shed their coats with the seasons. The same is true for arctic foxes. Though they're known for their iconic white winter coats, that fluffy fur sheds as temperatures warm up, revealing a much shorter dark coat underneath. Because they don't lose all their hair at once, they can look pretty patchy during the transition.

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Where to See Arctic Foxes in the Wild

While you may be able to see arctic foxes in zoos and wildlife parks, if you want to see them in their natural habitat, you'll need to travel to arctic areas in like Russia, Canada, Greenland or Norway. You may even be able to spot them in the USA if you travel to polar Alaska.

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They're Social and Stable

Researchers in Iceland have found that their local arctic fox population displays some human-like traits when it comes to their home and social lives. Foxes have been observed to form stable breeding pairs, and these couples tend to return to the same dens year after year to raise their babies.

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Large Litters and Short Lifespans

Arctic foxes can produce litters of a dozen or more babies, called kits. Their lifespan in the wild is usually pretty short, though, usually lasting about three years. In captivity, they can live much longer, with some arctic foxes reaching double digits in age.

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Climate Change Concerns

Though recent arctic fox research has shown promising population numbers with the decline of the fur trade, scientists are concerned that this trend will not continue. Factors relating to climate change, including habitat loss and declining prey populations, are likely to be a concern for arctic foxes as global temperatures rise.