A small fox of the Arctic tundra with thick fur and a big, fluffy tail. The common form is brown in summer and turns white in winter to blend in with the snow.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Omnivore
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?In places
At a glance
Found inArctic
HabitatPolar, Coast, Mountains
ColoursWhite, Brown, Grey
SizeSmall
Length46–68 cm
WeightAbout 5.2 kg (average)
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives infamilies
Lives for3–6 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Arctic regions right around the Northern Hemisphere.
- What it eats
- Lemmings, voles, ringed seal pups, fish and seabirds, plus carrion, berries, seaweed and insects.
Did you know
Turns from brown to white for winter, and slows its metabolism to save fat.
In winter it slows its metabolism by about a third to save its fat reserves.
Often confused with
- Red fox
The Arctic fox is smaller than the red fox, with a rounder body and white winter coat.
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