Fox (Arctic) - Arctic Fox Habits

The arctic fox lives in one of the most inhospitable habitats on Earth.

In the winter they live in almost perpetual darkness and in the summer they live through almost 24 hours of sunlight a day.

The arctic fox lives in dens that are dug into the side of a hill, cliff or riverbank. In winter they dig a series of interconnecting tunnels in the deep snow where the family live.

The territory of the arctic fox depends largely on the availability of food. During the winter when food is scarce a whole family will share a larger territory and in the summer when food is more abundant the territory shrinks.

The arctic fox does not hibernate during the winter but may migrate south to the coast or overwinter along the treeline of northern Scandinavia.

Arctic foxes are usually solitary in the summer but in the winter they hunt and live together in small family groups.

They reach maturity at one year and mate in early April before the summer arrives. They can have large litters from four to fourteen puppies in a litter with an average of six and can have two litters in a year.