Arctic Foxes at the Zoo

Aurora Borealis – She came to us in April of 2012 when she was between one and three years of age. She was on the rooftop of a house in Beverly Hills for three days before Animal Control captured her and sent her to a rehabilitator. Since arctic foxes are considered to be a restricted species by Fish and Game and cannot be released in California she was sent to us.

Description

(Vulpes lagopus)

What do Arctic Foxes eat?

Arctic Foxes are very opportunistic and will eat anything they can find such as arctic hares, lemmings, birds, berries, seaweed and fish.

How long do Arctic Foxes live?

They can live between 8 to 10 years in captivity.

How many Arctic Foxes can be born at a time?

They produce the largest litter size of any mammal.  Litter size can reach up to 20 “kits”, but average 3-11.

Where can Arctic Foxes be found?

Arctic foxes are found throughout the entire arctic tundra, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, Norway, Scandinavia, and Iceland

Interesting facts:

• Arctic foxes have some of the warmest fur of any mammal and even have fur on the bottom of their feet to keep them warm on the ice and snow.
• Arctic foxes have two different color phases and in both phases the coat changes color in summer becoming much darker. This helps them blend in with the seasonal changes of their arctic environment.