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Arctic Fox Facts & Worksheets

Arctic foxes are omnivorous canids found in the Arctic. They are well-adapted to severely frigid temperatures. They’re also called snow foxes or polar foxes.

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Arctic foxes are omnivorous canids found in the Arctic. They are well-adapted to severely frigid temperatures. They’re also called snow foxes or polar foxes.

See the fact file below for more information on the Arctic Fox, or you can download our 28-page Arctic Fox worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Introducing the Arctic Fox

  • The fascinating little Arctic fox is a small fox native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It has two different colored coats, a dark gray to bluish-brown one for the summer and a snowy white or creamy white one for winter. It is a stout creature with short, stubby legs, very thick dense fur, a large fluffy tail, and small curled back ears. An adult male is called a dog, and an adult female is called a vixen. Newborn babies are called kits, and a group of babies born simultaneously is called a litter.

Taxonomy

  • The scientific name for the Arctic fox is Vulpes lagopus.
  • Vulpes is a genus of the subfamily Caninae referred to as true foxes and includes wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and the domestic dog.
  • “Lagopus” means “rabbit-footed”. Unlike other canids, the arctic fox’s paws are sheathed in dense fur during the winter, hence the name “lagopus”, which means “the rabbit footed”.
  • The Arctic fox is also called a polar fox, snow fox, or white fox because of the color of its fur in the winter.

Physical Characteristics

  • The average male Arctic fox is 22 in (55 cm) in length and weighs about 7.7 lb (3.5 kg)
  • The slightly smaller female averages 20 in (52 cm) in length and weighs around 6.4 lb (2.9 kg). 
  • The fluffy tail is about 12 in (30 cm) long for both sexes. 
  • It is the smallest canine found in Canada.
  • Arctic foxes have poor eyesight but a sharp sense of smell and a good sense of hearing.
  • They are able to maintain their body temperature because of their deep thick fur. Their thick pelt can endure temperatures as low as -70 °C; if the temperature drops below -70 °C, their metabolism increases so they can keep warm.
  • Their feet are also covered with fur, which is not a typical characteristic of wild canids, and their stout build and rounded body help them maintain their body temperature.
  • The color change of their fur allows them to camouflage with their surroundings, such as trees and plants in the summer and snow-covered terrain in the winter.

Habitat

  • Arctic foxes inhabit Arctic tundra areas in northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America, and they are well adapted to the extremely low temperatures of the Arctic.
  • They are also the only land mammal native to Iceland.
  • Arctic foxes normally live in burrows used by multiple generations of Arctic foxes over many decades.
  • The underground tunnel systems are impressively wide and extensive, covering up to 1,000 square miles and having up to 150 entrances.
  • Arctic foxes tunnel into the snow for shelter when blizzards blow in, and they are not close to a tunnel entrance. They do not hibernate despite freezing temperatures.

Reproduction and Young

  • Arctic foxes reach sexual maturity at around ten months and start breeding when they are ten months to a year old.
  • Arctic foxes are monogamous, meaning they usually mate for life, with mating taking place from April to July.
  • The average gestation period is about 52 days.
  • The average litter size varies from 5 – 8 kits, but they are known to have up to 18 kits if the food in their area is abundant.
  • The kits are weaned at 2-4 weeks and start emerging from the den at 3 to 4 weeks old.
  • The male and female parents help raise their young, who are weaned by nine weeks.
  • Come summer, the females usually leave the family to form their own groups, while the males tend to stay with the family.
  • Because summer is short in the Arctic region, pups grow fast and quickly build fat reserves to survive the coming winter.
  • In the wild, Arctic foxes live to be 5 to 7 years old, but in captivity, they can live up to 15 years.

Diet, Predators, and Prey

  • Arctic foxes are omnivorous animals feeding on a variety of plant and animal matter food.  
  • They prey on small rodents, birds, seal pups, and fish, as well as feeding on berries, seaweed, insects, and tiny invertebrates.
  • They are also scavengers who eat carrion. When food is scarce, especially during winter, they feed on any leftovers they can find.
  • Arctic foxes survive icy winters and food scarcity by storing body fat and hoarding food. They also reduce the rate of their metabolisms to save energy when food is in short supply.
  • Their common predators are polar bears, grizzly bears, golden eagles, and bigger canids such as wolves, wolverines, and red foxes.

Did You Know?

  • Arctic foxes live as nomads, traveling long distances in the hunt for food. They have been recorded traveling over 2,000 miles (3210 km) during a seasonal winter movement.
  • The lifespan of Arctic foxes in the wild is short, ranging from 3 to 6 years. In captivity, it extends to 15 years.
  • Arctic foxes have dark-colored skin underneath their fur coats.
  • The abundance of red foxes that prey on the Arctic fox poses a significant threat, as do humans who hunt them for their beautiful, thick pelts for the clothing industry. 

Arctic Fox Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about arctic fox across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Arctic Fox worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the arctic foxes are omnivorous canids found in the Arctic. They are well-adapted to severely frigid temperatures. They’re also called snow foxes or polar foxes.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Arctic Fox Facts
  • Home of the Snow Fox
  • Am I Arctic?
  • One Part, One Fact
  • Physical & Social
  • Correct Choices
  • Family of Canines
  • Arctic Animals
  • Predator or Prey
  • Knowledge Recap
  • Polar Fox Poem

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Arctic foxes change color?

Arctic foxes have two different colored coats for camouflage, one for summer and one for winter. During the winter, the arctic fox has a thick, heavy white coat for warmth, but when summer temperatures begin to melt the snow, this coat is shed for a thinner, two-tone brown one.

What do Arctic foxes eat?

Arctic foxes are opportunistic omnivores who will eat almost anything. When food is plentiful, they catch rodents, birds, and fish, but when food is scarce, they will happily eat any kill the bears and wolves have left behind.

What is a baby Arctic fox called?

A baby Arctic fox is called a kit. Males are called dogs, and females are called vixens. A group of babies born at the same time is called a litter.

Can Arctic foxes run fast?

Arctic foxes can run as fast as most dogs. They can run up to 31 mph (50 kph) on short sprints, which usually means they can evade larger predators such as polar bears.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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