CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE HTML> <html> <head> <title>Arctic fox | Canids</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta name="keywords" content="Arctic fox"> <meta name="description" content="Arctic fox"> <meta name="alberon-uptime-monitor-tag" content="ok"> <link href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Orienta' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/app/css/base.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/app/layouts/brochure/canids/layout.css?ver=4" type="text/css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/ui.core.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/ui.draggable.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/ui.resizable.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/ui.dialog.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/ui.droppable.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/rating/jquery.rating.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/hoverbutton.oww.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jquery/search.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/jquery/dialog/jquery-ui-themeroller.css" > <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/jquery/rating/jquery.rating.css" > <script type="text/javascript"> var DDSPEED = 5; var DDTIMER = 15; // main function to handle the mouse events // // d=direction of fade, 1=fade in, -1 = fade out. function ddMenu(id,d){ var h = document.getElementById(id + '-ddheader'); var c = document.getElementById(id + '-ddcontent'); clearInterval(c.timer); if(d == 1){ clearTimeout(h.timer); if(c.maxh && c.maxh <= c.offsetHeight){return} else if(!c.maxh){ c.style.display = 'block'; c.style.height = 'auto'; c.maxh = c.offsetHeight; c.style.height = '0px'; } c.timer = setInterval(function(){ddSlide(c,1)},DDTIMER); }else{ h.timer = setTimeout(function(){ddCollapse(c)},50); } } // collapse the menu // function ddCollapse(c){ c.timer = setInterval(function(){ddSlide(c,-1)},DDTIMER); } // cancel the collapse if a user rolls over the dropdown // function cancelHide(id){ var h = document.getElementById(id + '-ddheader'); var c = document.getElementById(id + '-ddcontent'); clearTimeout(h.timer); clearInterval(c.timer); if(c.offsetHeight < c.maxh){ c.timer = setInterval(function(){ddSlide(c,1)},DDTIMER); } } // incrementally expand/contract the dropdown and change the opacity // function ddSlide(c,d){ var currh = parseInt(c.style.height) ; //offsetHeight; var dist; if(d == 1){ dist = (Math.round((c.maxh - currh) / DDSPEED)); }else{ dist = (Math.round(currh / DDSPEED)); } if(dist <= 1 ) { dist = 1; } c.style.height = currh + (dist * d) + 'px'; c.style.opacity = currh / c.maxh; c.style.filter = 'alpha(opacity=' + (currh * 100 / c.maxh) + ')'; if((currh < 2 && d != 1) || (currh > (c.maxh - 2) && d == 1)){ clearInterval(c.timer); } } </script> </head> <body onload=""> <div id="container"> <div id="header"><img style=" height: 60px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 5px;" alt="Canids Specialist Group" src="/app/images/structure/canids-logo-brown.jpg"><div class="housekeepingmenu"> <div class="menuitem"><a class="off" href="/support-" >Support us</a></div><div class="separator">|</div> <div class="menuitem"><a class="off" href="/tools-1" >Tools</a></div><div class="separator">|</div> <div class="menuitem"><a class="off" href="/photo-gallery" >Photo Gallery</a></div><div class="separator">|</div> <div class="menuitem"><a class="off" href="/useful-links" >Useful Links</a></div><div class="separator">|</div> <div class="menuitem"><a class="off" href="/contact" >Contact</a></div></div> </div> <div id="navigation"> <div id="nav"><ul class="dropdown"><li id="home-ddheader" class=""><a href="/home">Home</a></li></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="PNKHEJ389685-ddheader" onmouseout="ddMenu('PNKHEJ389685', -1)" onmouseover="ddMenu('PNKHEJ389685', 1)" class=""><a href="/PNKHEJ389685">About</a></li><div id="PNKHEJ389685-ddcontent" onmouseout="ddMenu('PNKHEJ389685', -1)" onmouseover="cancelHide('PNKHEJ389685')" class="submenu"><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/groups">Working Groups</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/what-we-do">What We Do</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/who-we-are">Who We Are</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/histor">History</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/sponsors-1">Sponsors</a></div></div></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="speciespage-ddheader" onmouseout="ddMenu('speciespage', -1)" onmouseover="ddMenu('speciespage', 1)" class=""><a href="/speciespage">Species</a></li><div id="speciespage-ddcontent" onmouseout="ddMenu('speciespage', -1)" onmouseover="cancelHide('speciespage')" class="submenu"><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">South America</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKFN688091">Short-eared dog</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKFY360401">Crab-eating fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKIV875331">Bush dog</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKIN694741">Hoary fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKI2182561">Pampas Fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKIA411651">Sechuran Fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKGA855611">Maned wolf</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKHM366471">Darwin's fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKGI446591">Culpeo</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKHU172531">Chilla</a></div></div></div><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">Central & North America</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKJA587951">Coyote</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKJI659751">Red wolf</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKJP597461">Gray fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKJY135341">Island fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKK8422331">Kit fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKKG784471">Swift fox</a></div></div></div><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">Europe & North/Central Asia</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKKS663901">Arctic fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKLD895731">Grey wolf</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKLP237241">Red fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKLY462191">Raccoon dog</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKM6521571">Corsac</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKMF443401">Tibetan fox</a></div></div></div><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">Sub-Saharan Africa</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKMO428071">Side-striped jackal</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKMW872861">Golden jackal</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKN8360151">Black-backed jackal</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKNL433181">Ethiopian wolf</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKNU724601">African wild dog</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKO4241281">Bat-eared fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKOC822211">Cape fox</a></div></div></div><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">North Africa & the Middle East</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKON160201">Blanford's fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKOV287451">Pale fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKP7952371">Ruppell's fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKPF521541">Fennec fox</a></div></div></div><div class="submenuitem fatMenu"><div style="vertical-align: top; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px;"><div class="name">South Asia</div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKQW171301">Dhole</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/PREKR4188521">Bengal fox</a></div><div class="species"><a href="/species/view/WCD6DU963961">Dingo </a></div></div></div></div></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="members-ddheader" class=""><a href="/members">Members</a></li></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="projects-ddheader" class=""><a href="/projects">Projects</a></li></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="publications-ddheader" class=""><a href="/publications">Publications</a></li></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="c-b-c-ddheader" onmouseout="ddMenu('c-b-c', -1)" onmouseover="ddMenu('c-b-c', 1)" class=""><a href="/c-b-c">Journal</a></li><div id="c-b-c-ddcontent" onmouseout="ddMenu('c-b-c', -1)" onmouseover="cancelHide('c-b-c')" class="submenu"><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/about-canid-biology-and-conservation">About CBC</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/editorial-board">Editorial Board</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/call-for-papers">Call for Papers</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/instructions-for-authors">Instructions to authors</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/all-articles">Previous Issues</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/recent-articles">Recent Issues</a></div><div class="submenuitem"><a href="/Q6WN21890762">----------------------------</a></div></div></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="news-and-events-ddheader" class=""><a href="/news-and-events">News</a></li></ul><ul class="dropdown"><li id="working-groups-ddheader" class=""><a href="/working-groups">Working Groups</a></li></ul></div><script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { $('.fatMenu').css('display', 'inline-block'); $('.dropdown').each(function() { var menuContainer = $(this); var topMenuItem = menuContainer.children('li'); var subMenu = menuContainer.children('.submenu'); var fatMenuElements = subMenu.children('.fatMenu'); if (fatMenuElements.size() == 0) return; menuContainer.data('fatMenu', { _data : { menu : menuContainer, topMenuItem : topMenuItem, subMenu : subMenu, fatMenuElements : fatMenuElements }, setup : function() { var noElements = this._data.fatMenuElements.size(); this._data.subMenu.width(noElements * 133); this._data.subMenu.find('div').css('border', 'none'); } }); menuContainer.data('fatMenu').setup(); }); }); </script><div style="clear:both;"></div></div><div id="headerpic"></div> <div id="outercontent"><div class="contentSpacer"></div><div id="leftPane"><div class="searchBox"><form method="post" action="/sitesearch">Search <input name="q" type="text" class="search" /><input type="submit" style="display: none;" /></form></div><script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { $('.search').keyup(function(e) { var searchObject = $(this); if (e.which == 13) return true; if (searchObject.data('jqXhtmlSearch') != null) { searchObject.data('jqXhtmlSearch').abort(); searchObject.data('jqXhtmlSearch', null); } if (searchObject.data('searchResults') != null) { searchObject.data('searchResults').remove(); searchObject.data('searchResults', null); } var criteria = searchObject.val(); if (criteria.length < 3) return; var uri = '/sitesearch'; searchObject.data('jqXhtmlSearch', $.get(uri, { ajax : 1, q : criteria, limit : 10 }, function(data) { var searchResults = $('<div class="searchResults"/>'); searchObject.data('searchResults', searchResults); searchResults.css('position', 'absolute'); searchResults.css('top', searchObject.position().top + searchObject.height() + 6); searchResults.css('left', searchObject.position().left + 2); searchResults.html(data); searchResults.find('a').click(function() { searchResults.hide(); }); $('body').append(searchResults); })); }); }); </script><ul class="sideMenu"><li class=""><a href="/species/region/PREKDB770131">South America</a></li><li class=""><a href="/species/region/PREKDL133611">Central & North America</a></li><li class="selected"><a href="/species/region/PREKDX515331">Europe & North/Central Asia</a></li><li class=""><a href="/species/region/PREKE8430791">Sub-Saharan Africa</a></li><li class=""><a href="/species/region/PREKEJ362401">North Africa & the Middle East</a></li><li class=""><a href="/species/region/PREKQ6133971">South Asia</a></li></ul><div class="subscribeBox">Subscribe to <a href="/subscribe">Canids-L mailing List</a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgZH3Opj68FzAThu75cEkgw/feed" target="_blank"><img style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; border: 0px;" title="Follow our Youtube channel" src="/app/images/icons/youtube.png" alt="Follow our Youtube channel" width="79" height="33" /></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Canidconservation" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0px;" title="Find us on Facebook" src="/app/images/icons/facebook-icon.png" alt="Find us on Facebook" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WildCanids" target="_blank"><img src="/app/images/icons/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="32" height="33" /></a></p></div><div id="innercontent"> <h1><span class="mainMenuItemBread">Europe & North/Central Asia</span><span class="subMenuItem">Arctic fox</span><span class="scientificName"> Vulpes lagopus</span></h1><div class="pageImages"><img src="/app/images/canids/arctic-fox/arcticfox.jpg" title="Arctic fox - © Love Dalén"><p>Arctic fox - © Love Dalén</p><p><a href="/resources/view/RESMYQ395421"><strong>Arctic Fox Working Group</strong></a></p><strong>Relevant Links</strong><ul class="resources"><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/canidguide/">Flickr: Wild Canids of the World</a></li><li><a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/899/0">2014 IUCN Red List Assessment - Arctic Fox</a></li><li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/Norway/boosting-arctic-fox-numbers-in-northern-scandinavia">European Commission - Boosting Arctic Fox Numbers</a></li></ul><strong>Reports / Papers</strong><ul class="resources"><li><a href="/resources/view/Q7NT8M406991">2004 Status Survey & Conservation Action Plan - Europe & North/Central Asia</a></li></ul><strong>Other Names</strong><h5><span style="font-size: small;">English: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Arctic Fox, Polar Fox</span></span></h5> <p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p> <h5><span style="font-size: small;">French: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Isatis, Renard Polaire, Reynard Polaire</span></span></h5> <p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p> <h5><span style="font-size: small;">Spanish; Castilian: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Zorro Ártico</span></span></h5> <p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p> <h5><span style="font-size: small;">German: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Polarfuchs</span></span></h5> <p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p> <h5><span style="font-size: small;">Russian: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Ïåñåö</span></span></h5></div><a class="statusImage" href="http://www.redlist.org/static/categories_criteria_3_1#categories"><img style="width:404px;" alt="Least Concern" src="/app/images/iucn-categories/least-concern.jpg" /></a><h4>Taxonomic Notes</h4> <p>Often included in the genus <em>Alopex</em>, current evidence suggests that inclusion in <em>Vulpes</em> (<em>sensu</em> Wozencraft 2005) is warranted as <em>Vulpes </em>is otherwise paraphyletic with respect to <em>Alopex</em>. Nuclear and matrilineal (mitochondrial) DNA unambiguously support the inclusion of <em>Alopex lagopus</em> in <em>Vulpes </em>(Geffen <em>et al</em>. 1992, Lindblad-Toh <em>et al</em>. 2005, Perini <em>et al</em>. 2010).</p> <h4>Justification</h4> <p>The Arctic Fox has a circumpolar distribution in all Arctic tundra habitats, with a global population in the order of several hundred thousand animals. Most populations fluctuate widely in numbers between years in response to varying lemming numbers, but in most areas population status is believed to be good and there is no reason to believe that the species currently qualifies for listing as threatened under any of the criteria.</p> <h4>Geographic Range Information</h4> <p>The Arctic Fox has a circumpolar distribution in all Arctic tundra habitats. It breeds north of and above the tree line on the Arctic tundra in North America and Eurasia and on the alpine tundra in Fennoscandia, ranging from northern Greenland at 88°N to the southern tip of Hudson Bay, Canada, 53°N. The southern edge of the species' distribution range may have moved somewhat north during the 20th century resulting in a smaller total range (Hersteinsson and Macdonald 1992). The species inhabits most Arctic islands and many islands in the Bering Sea. The Arctic Fox was also introduced to previously isolated islands in the Aleutian chain at the end of the 19th century by the fur industry (Bailey 1992), where they are now often being eliminated by bird conservation efforts (Walton <em>et al</em>. 2013). The Arctic Fox has also been observed on the sea ice up to the North Pole. They may occur up to 3,000 m asl in elevation. <br /><br />During the last glaciation, the Arctic Fox had a distribution along the ice edge, and Arctic Fox remains have been found in a number of Pleistocene deposits over most of Europe and large parts of Siberia (Dalén <em>et al</em>. 2007).</p><p><strong>Population trend:</strong>Stable</p><a href="https://f002.backblazeb2.com/file/cached-individual-maps/T899A57549321.jpg?Authorization=3_20210112195837_9b508139619f92a45ada49b9_e7eeeaa5f1e878a9dc0191fa10b08a3c177e7945_002_20210119195837_0017_dnld" target="_blank"><div><img class="rangeMap" src="/app/images/arctic-fox-map.jpg" alt="(Arctic fox range map)" /></div></a><div>(Click on map for more detail)</div><h4>Population Information</h4> <p>The world population of Arctic Foxes is in the order of several hundred thousand animals. Most populations fluctuate widely in numbers between years in response to varying lemming numbers. In most areas, however, population status is believed to be good. The species is common in the tundra areas of Russia, Canada, coastal Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Exceptions are Fennoscandia, islands in the Bering Sea (Mednyi Island, Russia; Pribilof Islands, Alaska, e.g., St Paul), where populations are at critically low levels and appear to be declining further. On some Aleutian Islands, Alaska, non-native Arctic Foxes are being eradicated in the course of bird conservation efforts (Walton <em>et al</em>. 2013). Vagrant Arctic Foxes are common over the northern sea-ice where can move several thousands of kilometres following Polar Bears <em>Ursus maritimus </em>as scavengers (Tarroux <em>et al</em>. 2010).</p> <h4>Habitat and Ecology Information</h4> <p>Inhabits Arctic and alpine tundra on the continents of Eurasia, North America and the Canadian archipelago, Siberian islands, Greenland, inland Iceland and Svalbard, and Sub-Arctic maritime habitat in the Aleutian island chain, Bering Sea Islands, Commander Islands and coastal Iceland. <br /><br />The Arctic Fox is an opportunistic predator and scavenger but in most inland areas, the species is heavily dependent on fluctuating rodent populations. The species' main prey items include lemmings, both <em>Lemmus</em> spp. and <em>Dicrostonyx</em> spp. (Macpherson 1969, Angerbjörn <em>et al.</em> 1999). In Fennoscandia, <em>Lemmus lemmus</em> was the main prey in summer (85% frequency of occurrence in faeces) followed by birds (Passeriformes, Galliformes and Caridriiformes, 34%) and reindeer (<em>Rangifer tarandus</em>) (21%; Elmhagen <em>et al</em>. 2000). In winter, ptarmigan and grouse (<em>Lagopus</em> spp.) are common prey in addition to rodents and reindeer (Kaikusalo and Angerbjörn 1995). Changes in fox populations have been observed to follow those of their main prey in three- to five-year cycles (Macpherson 1969, Angerbjörn <em>et al</em>. 1999, 2013) with up to 20 cubs produced by a single female (Tannerfeldt and Angerbjörn 1998).<br /><br />Foxes living near ice-free coasts have access to both inland prey and sea birds, seal carcasses, fish and invertebrates connected to the marine environment, leading to relatively stable food availability and a more generalist strategy (Hersteinsson and Macdonald 1996). In late winter and summer, foxes found in coastal Iceland feed on seabirds (<em>Uria aalge</em>, <em>U. lomvia</em>), seal carcasses and marine invertebrates. Inland foxes rely more on ptarmigan in winter, and migrant birds, such as geese and waders, in summer (Hersteinsson and Macdonald 1996). In certain areas, foxes rely on colonies of Arctic geese, which can dominate their diet locally (Samelius and Lee 1998). Some populations switch between lemmings, migratory birds and marine resources depending on intra- and interannual variations in prey availability. The Arctic Fox depends also on remains of carrion left by larger predators, e.g. Polar Bear, Grey Wolf <em>Canis lupus</em>, and Wolverine <em>Gulo gulo</em>. It is itself a victim of predation, mainly from Red Fox, Wolverine, Golden Eagle, and humans.</p> <h4>Threats Information</h4> <p>Hunting for fur has long been a major mortality factor for the Arctic Fox. With the decline of the fur hunting industry, the threat of over-exploitation is lowered for most Arctic Fox populations. They may also be subject to direct persecution (as on St. Paul Island). Misinformation as to the origin of Arctic Foxes on the Pribilofs continues to foster negative attitudes and the long-term persistence of this endemic subspecies is in jeopardy. In areas connected to marine ecosystems, Arctic Foxes may also be affected by indirect threats, such as diseases and the effects of persistent organic pollutants (Sonne <em>et al</em>. 2008); indeed, an emerging threat in Fennoscandia is the impact of sarcoptic mange on populations (Mörner 1992). In some areas, gene swamping by farm-bred blue foxes (see Conservation) may threaten native populations (Norén <em>et al</em>. 2009).</p> <h4>Use and Trade Information</h4> <p>The Arctic Fox remains the single most important terrestrial game species in the Arctic. Indigenous peoples have always utilized its exceptional fur, and with the advent of the fur industry, the Arctic Fox quickly became an important source of income. Today, leg-hold traps and shooting are the main hunting methods. Because of their large reproductive capacity, Arctic Foxes can maintain population levels under high hunting pressure. In some areas, up to 50% of the total population has been harvested on a sustainable basis (Nasimovic and Isakov 1985). However, this does not allow for hunting during population lows, as shown by the situation in Fennoscandia. The Arctic Fox has nevertheless survived high fur prices better than most other Arctic mammals. Hunting has declined considerably in the last decades, as a result of low fur prices and alternative sources of income. In the Yukon, for example, the total value of all fur production decreased from $1.3 million in 1988 to less than $300,000 after 2000.</p> <h4>Conservation Actions Information</h4> <p>The species is not included in the CITES Appendices.<br /><br />In most of its range, the Arctic Fox is not protected. However, the species and its dens have had total legal protection in Sweden since 1928, in mainland Norway since 1930, and in Finland since 1940. In Europe, the Arctic Fox is a priority species under the Actions by the Community relating to the Environment (ACE). It is therefore to be given full protection. On St. Paul Island the declining Arctic Fox population currently has no legal protection (Walton<em> et al</em>. 2013). In Norway (Svalbard), Greenland, Canada, Russia, and Alaska, trapping is limited to licensed trappers operating in a defined trapping season. The enforcement of these laws appears to be uniformly good. In Iceland, bounty hunting takes place over most of the country outside nature reserves.<br /><br />For occurrence in protected areas, good information is available only for Sweden and Finland. For Iceland, Arctic Foxes could potentially appear in most protected areas. <br /><br />An action plan has been developed for Arctic Foxes in Sweden (Elmhagen 2008) and status reports have been published for Norway (Ulvund <em>et al</em>. 2013) and Finland (Kaikusalo <em>et al.</em> 2000). In Sweden, Norway and Finland, a conservation project led to significant increases in the population (Angerbjörn <em>et al</em>. 2013). <br /><br />The Arctic Fox occurs widely in captivity on fur farms and has been bred for fur production for over 70 years. The present captive population originates from a number of wild populations and has been bred for characteristics different from those found in the wild, including large size. Escaped "blue" foxes may already be a problem in Fennoscandia (and to a lesser extent in Iceland) due to gene swamping (Norén <em>et al</em>. 2009). In Norway, foxes bred in captivity have successfully been released into the wild (Landa <em>et al</em>. 2014).<br /><br />The following gaps still exist in knowledge of the Arctic Fox:<br /><br />1) Little is known concerning the impact of diseases on fox populations, e.g. sarcoptic mange and <em>Echinococcus multilocularis</em>. Allied to this is our lack of knowledge of the epidemiology of Arctic rabies.<br /><br />2) Considering the northward spread of the Red Fox in certain areas, studies are necessary to determine the effects of competition between Red Foxes and Arctic Foxes on various population parameters and Arctic Fox life-history patterns.<br /><br />3) The non-recovery of the Fennoscandian population is a cause for concern, and requires specific attention, especially in terms of disease and genetics.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div id="footer"><div class="copyrightNotice" style="width:610px"><div> The Canid Specialist Group is housed by WildCRU at Tubney House, Oxford, UK. Claudio Sillero's position at WildCRU is funded by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bornfree.org.uk/">The Born Free Foundation.</a> Copyright 漏 <?php echo date('Y'); ?> by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. All rights reserved. <a href="http://www.oxford-web.co.uk">Website developed by oxford web</a> and designed by Teresa Fuertes. </div></div><div class="sponsors"> <img alt="Wildlife Conservation Research Unit" src="/app/images/structure/wild-cru.png" /> <img src="/app/images/structure/born-free.png" alt="Born Free Foundation"/></div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div></body></html>