Arctic fox
Scientific name: Vulpes lagopus
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
A small, compact canid with a proportionally large, bushy tail and rounded ears. Coat colour varies seasonally: white or grey-blue in winter; brown or greyish-brown in summer. Sexual dimorphism is minimal; males average slightly larger than females.
Size and weight
Adults weigh 3.2–4.7 kg (females) and 3.5–5.3 kg (males). Body length 46–68 cm; tail 25–33 cm.
Habitat
Arctic foxes inhabit treeless tundra, coastal plains, and rocky uplands across the high Arctic and subarctic regions. They favour areas near coast and river valleys where small mammal prey is abundant and den sites are accessible.
Distribution
Circumpolar distribution across Arctic tundra of North America, Greenland, Eurasia, and adjacent islands. Prefer coastal regions and lowland tundra where microtine rodents concentrate.
Diet
Primarily small rodents (lemmings and voles), supplemented by birds, eggs, carrion, and coastal invertebrates; diet shifts seasonally toward available prey and scavenged seal kills in winter.
Behaviour
Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular hunters, though daylight activity increases during continuous daylight in summer. Solitary or in pairs; highly mobile across large home ranges with nomadic tendencies driven by prey availability.
Hunting tips
Look for small, paired tracks in snow or soft ground (4–5 cm pad width); scat is sparse and often contains rodent fur and bone. Approach upwind across open terrain using terrain folds for concealment; foxes are wary and rely on acute hearing. Hunt during low-light periods when foxes are most active; listen for hunting squeaks indicating prey capture.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.