Arctic Fox

Arctic Fox

 

Arctic Fox - Vulpes lagopus

Arctic Fox – Photographer: Keith Morehouse

 

Description 

With a full grown adult size from 5 to 20 pounds there is plenty of diversity when it comes to the Arctic Fox. They are going to vary in size depending on the area where they live. Some are able to find more sources of food than others which plays a major role in how large they become.

Some believe that the Arctic Fox is white in color all year long. While they are for the majority of it, they do turn a shade of brown for the summer months. This is to help them be able to remain protected in their natural environment. The white color helps them with the snow but when there isn’t much of it they need to have another option.

 

Anatomy 

Since only a few specific animals are known to live in the cold Arctic temperatures, exploring what it is about their anatomy that makes it possible is fascinating. Like so many other animals in this area they have layers of fat called blubber. This helps to give them the body heat they need to be comfortable here. They also have feet covered with fur so that body temperature can’t be lost here.

They are able to move around quickly and without falling on the ice and snow due to the pads at the bottom of the feet. This is important or they would struggle to hunt and to get away from predators in this type of environment. The ears are also designed to help them with maintaining body temperature. Their sense of smell and hearing are wonderful which also help them to be able to live in such an area.

 

Evolution 

The fact that this fox can live here is believed to be due to evolution. They have differences with the design of the body that allows it to be possible. You couldn’t take another species of fox and place them here as they would die due to the cold. How did this species of fox get to theArctic? Most believe it occurred with the Ice Age and a quest to find food.

Changes to their bodies allowed them to be able to survive here instead of dying out. This is also believed to be why they have the white coloring most of they year. While other species of fox do feature some white, they don’t have it all over the body. There is still plenty of unknown information though about how they evolved into the animals as we know of them today.

 

Behavior 

Another difference among them and other species of fox is that they are social animals. Others are very isolated and really only interact for mating or when they are taking care of their offspring. They are able to recognize others that they have been around through the scents that are given off. The females tend to be more interested in maintaining social relationships though than the males.

There are unfounded fears out there about the Arctic Fox too due to the fact that they do come out during the day. All other species of fox are nocturnal so they only come out at night. For this one though they need to find food when they can so if that opportunity is during the day they will take it.

Fears though stem from the 1988 outbreak of rabies inNewfoundland. This fox is believed to be the animals that introduced it. That is the information people remember, and they often associate seeing a fox out during the day with the chances that it could have rabies.

 

Habitat and Distribution 

These animals are able to live where it is extremely low and the temperature is often in the negatives. They live in dens like other fox but most of the time these dens are found under the ground. They also have detailed tunnel systems there that they use to move around. When there are layers of snow on the ground they will use them to save energy.

They can also find sources of food under the ground this way. They will have a better opportunity of doing so then remaining above the ground. They do like to stay on the frozen ice though better than in the snow because it consumes less energy to walk there.

 

Feeding Habits 

Finding enough food is a challenge at times in the Arctic so this fox has to do all it can to increase the chances of survival. They search for food underground as well as above it. They can hear rodents and other animals moving under the snow when they are above it. Then they can reach down and kill it instantly.

The biggest source of food for the Arctic Fox is the Lemming. They can consume several of them on any given day when they have the chance to do so. They will also each the eggs that birds leave behind. When they have a chance, they will also feed on the smaller species of birds in their environment.

Another interesting element of the Arctic Fox is that they will consume remains of animals that have been left behind. Other species of fox won’t do this, they only consume what they actually kill themselves. This is why they are often seen tracking the Polar Bear. When they do so, they will get the opportunity to consume the meat from seals as the Polar Bear will only want the layers of blubber it offers.

 

Reproduction 

Mating season is very long for this fox which works to their benefit. It can take several months for them to find each other. They mate for life and track each other by scent. They can mate as early as September or as late as May of the next year. They do give birth to a very large litter, but almost all of them will die before they are old enough to venture out on their own.

This isn’t due to a lack of parenting but the environment. The extreme cold can prove to be too much. From the moment they are born the young rely on their mother for warmth and for food. The male has to bring her food though so she can produce enough for the young. If he doesn’t return, she will have no choice but to leave them for her own survival.

 

Predators

In this type of environment, there aren’t nearly as many predators as other fox deal with. What they have to worry about include the Golden Eagle, Polar Bears, and the wolf. All of these animals are going to do all they can when it comes to finding food for their own survival. They often hunt the younger fox but will try to get the adults if they feel they have a chance of capturing it.

Humans also go to this remote part of the world in order to hunt the Arctic Fox. They love the chance to hunt for something that is so unique in the world. They want to have the challenge of tracking them in unfamiliar territory. The great look of this fox is another reason human’s go hunt for it.  As I mentioned, there are also those that worry about rabies again. They feel this animal should be hunted to prevent that from happening.

 

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Fox Facts and Information

 

Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf

 

 

Arctic Wolf -Canis lupus arctos

Arctic Wolf – Photo taken by Michael Gäbler

Arctic Wolf Description

The Arctic Wolf is a survivor – one able to live cold and isolated areas of the world. This is a small wolf but definitely one that makes up for it in strength and beauty. Ranging in weight from 100 to 175 pounds they can hold their own in the wild. They vary significantly in length. Some of them are six feet long but others are barely three feet in length. The white coloring mixed with some yellow, black, and gray

Arctic Wolf Anatomy

The body of the Arctic Wolf is well designed to keep it warm. For many months out of the year it can be below zero temperatures. It can also be completely dark for long stretches of time. This wolf have two layers of fur that protect it from the cold and the wind. It also protects them from the reflections of the UV rays that the sun produces.

The first layer offers an invisible shield around the actual body. It prevents water, cold, and the elements from changing the body temperature of the wolf. The top layer helps to protect from wind and other aspects out there in nature that the come into contact with. Many people notice that the Arctic Wolf has smaller ears than other species. This is so that they are able to stay warm as well. The long tail allows them to have something they can cover their face with as well.

Arctic Wolf Evolution

It isn’t really understood how these animals are able to live in this area of the world. It is speculated that evolution has played a vital role in it. More than 50 million years ago some wolves were stuck there due to the natural elements. These canines were able to survive due to their bodies changing so that they could handle the cold and the open range.

Arctic Wolf Behavior

The Arctic Wolf does spend time individually away from the rest of the pack. This is done to find food and shelter. They will use their howling and barking to let their other pack members know where they are at. Generally they are all within close proximity to each other. The pack may only have a few members if it is newly formed. It can also have up to twenty of them including the offspring.

These wolves depend upon their social interactions with each other to help them to survive. Not only to help them be able to hunt for food successfully but to help them learn about survival in such areas. These wolves seem to get along very well with the others in their pack. They definitely realize they are all dependent upon each other.

The Arctic Wolf can spend up to 10 hours a day moving around in its home territory. They are able to do so due to the way their paws are designed. They don’t sink down into the snow or slide on the ice. They will mark their territory with scent as they move around. This is to help ensure other wolf packs don’t invade their territory.

Arctic Wolf Habitat and Distribution

A few Arctic Wolf packs are found in Canada. There are also a handful of them around Greenland. Yet the numbers of these animals in both areas has continued to drop very low. Experts feel this is due to their habitat being taken over by humans. As a result it is more difficult for them to find enough food to survive.

Due to the isolated nature of Alaska, this is one place where these wolves have plenty of area to roam around. It isn’t unusual for the home range of an Arctic Wolf pack to span hundreds of miles. This also allows them to follow the herds of animals that they feed upon throughout the year.

Even though their habitat areas do often overlap, there doesn’t seem to be too much conflict between packs. When it is hard to find food though the aggressive nature of protecting a given area will increase. Should one wolf pack not back off and go another direction then a physical confrontation can ensue.

Arctic Wolf Diet and Feeding Habits

Being strong and being fast allows the Arctic Wolf to be able to take down prey for food. They must work as a team to be able to do so. That is why smaller packs of them find it harder to survive, so they increase in numbers. Of course the more wolves in the pack the more food they have to hunt for survival so there is a trade off.

Their diet consists of caribou and the muskoxen. These are animals much larger than them. Yet with careful planning and precision they are able to successfully take them down. If they let potential prey get away from them it can be a long time until their next meal. Even so, the Arctic Wolf is able to survive even with out food for a couple of weeks.

Knowing that they may not get to feed again for a long time, they will consume all that they can when they are a successful with the hunt. They can consume up to 20 pounds each. Nothing on the animals that they take down goes to waste. They have powerful jaws and teeth that allow them to easily crush through bones and other body parts.

The pups will need to be fed from about three months of age to six months of age by the adults. They will come back from a kill with regurgitated food that has been partially digested. The young will consume it quickly and they will get it from all of the different pack members. When they are about six months old they too will help with the hunting process.

Arctic Wolf Reproduction

While there are many healthy members of the wolf pack, only the alpha male and beta female get to mate. This helps to ensure inbreeding doesn’t occur. The young do have the option of remaining with their own pack forever. Yet that means not mating so the urge to do so can encourage them to leave when they are about 1 ½ or 2 years of age. They will venture out to find other lone wolves and form their own packs.

After successfully mating, the female has the job of finding a good place for her young to be born. She will try to dig in the thick ice to make a den. If it is too hard she will find a den that has been abandoned. The young are born about 63 days after conception. She will stay in the den with them for about three months.

During this time she may need to leave to feed herself, especially if she has a large litter of pups. They will drink milk from her body for their own survival. They are born deaf as well as blind. Barely one pound each at birth, they grow very quickly. When they are about three weeks old they will come out of the den to join the rest of the wolf pack. The introduction is welcoming and all of the members of the pack will care for them.

Arctic Wolf Predators

Arctic Wolves don’t have too many problems with predators. Occasionally they may encounter a problem with a bear. They can have their conflicts with other wolf packs as well for food and for territory. This particular wolf doesn’t have the concerns with humans like other species though. It is simply too difficult for humans to be in the regions where these animals are found.

 

Arctic Wolf Related Arcticles

Gray Wolf 

 

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Gray Wolf

Gray Wolf

 

Gray Wolf - Canis lupus

Gray Wolf – Photo taken by Gary Kramer / United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Gray Wolf Description

Also known as Common Wolf, the Gray Wolf is very popular. However, when you start to learn more about it you will learn this animal is anything but common. It has a very definite presence that has continued due to its body and its adaptability. These are intelligent animals that have a desire to continue on Earth in spite of what is taking place all around them.

Their coloring can be very different for each of them which is why they can often be mistaken for others. Many Common Wolves are gray in color but they don’t have to be. Others have white, black, brown, and even red or yellow in them. It is often that one will have multiple colorings found within the fur.

The size of a Common Wolf can be hard to say for sure. Yes, there are some cases of extremely large ones out there, more than 200 pounds. It is believed these are the ones that legends about werewolves derive from. However, most of them are about 55 pounds on the small end and 90 pounds on the higher end. Most of them are about 5 feet long but they can be from 4 ½ feet up to 6 feet.

Gray Wolf Anatomy

These particular wolves have a head that is smaller than other species and a narrower width across the shoulders. Even so, they are very powerful animals and not one to be taken lightly. They also have muzzles that are long an skinny which is different from other types of wolves. They have amazing stamina which means they can go for a very long time without stopping. They are slower overall when it comes to top speed than other wolves but that doesn’t really matter since they can go for so long.

What is really amazing about the Common Wolf is the way their paws are designed. They have feet that are very large which allows them to move their weight around when they need to. This is why they are able to stay on top of soft snow even when they are on the heavier side of the weight spectrum. They also have webbing between the feet so they are able to walk around on any type of terrain.

All canines have very sharp teeth as well as strong jaws. However, the Common Wolf also has three times the power of those others out there. This is an amazing ability that they have and one that means once they capture prey it is surely going to meet its death. What about rumors about the saliva from them for healing? Research does show it is able to reduce the risk of an infection setting it. This is due to it offering properties to get new cells to quickly be created.

Gray Wolf Evolution

The evolution for the Common Wolf definitely has plenty of mystery behind it. What we do know is that these wolves are related to canines that are more than 300,000 years old. We also know that they have evolved in their appearance including their webbed feet in order to be able to survive in a variety of conditions offered out there.

Gray Wolf Behavior

Contrary to popular belief, the Common Wolf isn’t an animal out there that preys on humans. In fact, they are quite content within their packs to be peaceful. They do have a sophisticated level of hierarchy that works well for them. They use verbal communication including howling to connect with their pack and to warn other packs to keep their distance.

They will leave their scent behind in order to keep the message out there that they have a claim to particular areas. Sometimes their territories do overlap and they will have to protect the area where they hunt or where the beta female has a den with her pups.

Gray Wolf Habitat and Distribution

Since these wolves have a body designed to handle different terrain you won’t be surprised to find they are in many places around Northern America. They can live in the mountains or on the plains. They can live in the grasslands or in the desert. They just need enough range to move around and access to food sources in order to thrive.

One of the biggest problems for the Common Wolf is the reduction of their land. They are very versatile though so in many instances they do move into new territory. Of course this can easily upset the balance of that other ecosystem as well so it isn’t always a well received move.

Gray Wolf Feeding Habits

The Common Wolf mainly goes after large prey that the entire pack is able to consume. This can include deer, elk, and bison. What they come into contact with is going to depend on where they reside. What is interesting is that they usually won’t attack prey that is standing still. They love the thrill of chasing it and brining it down. They will also consume small types of animals such as rodents when they see them.

The young pups in a pack will be fed food that the adults have partially digested when they are about three months of age. This continues until they are six months old. At that point they observe the kills and then get to fight to consume what they can. This is part of establishing their rank with the Common Wolf pack.

Gray Wolf Reproduction

Mating take part the first four months of the year, but only for about 10 days when the female is in estrus. The specific time frame for it depends on the location of the wolf packs. Those in lower elevations will mate sooner than those higher up. It takes two months after mating for the young to be born. Even with plenty of members of a Common Wolf pack, it is generally only the beta female that will have pups. For this reason many young go out on their own before they are two years old.

The mothers will use a den to keep their young safe for the first few months of life. She can have a large number of them, but six per litter is average. They need her for food and they can’t see or hear. They will develop those senses before they leave the den with her at three months of age. At that point, these young are cared for by all in the pack.

Gray Wolf Predators

Due to the issues they have with territory, it is often that Common Wolves have encounters with other packs. The desire for the territory, mating, and food can make these all out battles. Sometimes part of the pack is injured or killed before it is finished. The young of a pack can be killed in these battles as well, dropping the overall numbers by quite a bit.

Humans continue to be a serious problem for these wolves. First, they are the ones responsible for taking all their habitat away from them. Yet they wish to complain when their livestock or other animals are killed by these wolves. Hunting of the Common Wolf has gone on for centuries.  Even so, this species continues to evolve and to be strong. They aren’t in as much danger of the possibility of extinction as other species out there.