The Arctic Fox is super cute, we all agree, but don't be fooled by its appearance, this is one tough cookie!
The Arctic fox lives in the Far North, which is why it has thick, warm and beautiful fur that also provides it with camouflage in the snow. Sadly, it is precisely because of its fur that this animal has become widely known (and endangered). The Arctic fox resembles the common fox in appearance; hence its name.
Arctic foxes are one of the world's most domesticated and tamed animals. They are known for their loyalty and affection towards humans and make excellent pets. However, they require special care and attention due to their unique needs in captivity.
With their playful nature, once encountered, the Arctic fox instantly gains popularity with guests. Arctic foxes have such a cheeky personality that they are also known as the “clowns of the tundra” – as our past guests and Expedition Leaders on Polar Bear Migration Fly-In Photo Safari can attest!
Arctic foxes are well adapted to living in icy-cold environments, such as the Arctic and alpine tundra of the polar region in the Northern hemisphere. The Arctic fox is also much smaller, stouter and more compact than other members of the Fox family, which helps to reduce heat loss due to lower total body surface area.
They are Social and Affectionate
Arctic foxes are social animals that bond strongly with their owners and other pets. They like to cuddle, groom, and sleep with their human companions, and they can get along well with dogs if they are raised together.
Generally, foxes are shy and reserved animals, which explains why they may prefer to hang out at the top of their exhibit and keep watch over everyone that comes to visit with them. Arctic foxes, also known “white foxes,” are found in very cold, treeless places called the tundra.
Foxes do not cuddle. As babies they are very lovable, but so is a baby bear cub. As adults for the majority of their 10-15 year lifespan they will choose the few very precious moments that they allow you to pet them or even hold them. The videos you see of foxes being loved on are those rare moments.
Their thick fur coat keeps the fox's body at a toasty 104°F. Their long, fluffy tails act like a blanket, keeping the fox warm when it wraps the tail around its body to sleep. Their feet also have a layer of thick fur, like built-in snow boots.
In the winter, they sport fluffy white coats that blend into the snow; in the summer they shed these coats for brownish or grayish, shorter fur that helps them camouflage into bare rocks and dirt. Arctic foxes are opportunistic omnivores and very curious.
In general, yes! Arctic Fox colors are 100% vegan, contain no animal by-products or any of the harsh chemicals often found in permanent dyes such as peroxide, ammonia, ethyl alcohol and PPD.
The reality is they don't make great pets, and in most states, it is illegal to own one. Foxes are wild animals, meaning they have not been domesticated.
Foxes are a part of the Canidae family of animals, which makes them canines. They are closely related to domestic dogs and wolves. The canine family also includes coyotes, jackals, and even raccoons!
The biological answer to whether foxes are cats or dogs is simple: they belong to the Canidae family, which means they are dogs.
Foxes Are Related to Dogs, but Act Like Cats
Although red foxes are part of the Canidae family along with dogs, they have more in common with cats. Here are just a few similarities: Like cats, red foxes are most active at night. Their vertical pupils enable them to see clearly in dark or dim light.
A cat apparently equates to "darker hair, light eyes and sharp features." A deer suggests you have "dark hair and eyes, a longer face with soft features." A fox means "lighter hair, longer face and sharp features."
The world's fluffiest tail belongs to the 'vampire squirrel' of Southeast Asia.
The mammal species with the fluffiest tail is the tufted ground squirrel (Rheithrosciurus macrotis), native to the island of Borneo. Its exceptionally bushy, fluffy tail is estimated to be 130% the volume of the rest of its body, giving this species the largest tail-to-body ratio of any known mammal.
Also known as the “lesser panda” or “fire fox” (among other names), red pandas inhabit an area that extends from the eastern Himalayas across Nepal, Bhutan, and northeast India to the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan in southwest China.
Are foxes dangerous? Do foxes attack humans? Foxes are not dangerous and do not attack humans, except when they are rabid, which is very rare, or when they are captured and handled. Even then, a fox's natural tendency is to flee rather than fight.
Within 10 generations, he wrote in 1979, “Like dogs, these foxes seek contact with familiar persons, tend to get close to them, and lick their hands and faces.”
But while foxes may be clever and sometimes even devious in their pursuit of food, they are also incredibly loving.
The length of the head and body of the Arctic fox is typically between 18 and 26.6 inches long, with the tail adding another 10 to 17 inches to the overall length (Malcolm, 2003). The iris of its eyes is a deep golden or orange-yellow color, which is useful against the glare in the icy environment of the Arctic.
Arctic foxes use certain sounds to communicate with each other. These can range from a loud yowl if the distance is long, to a high pitched sound which is a warning of danger. Arctic foxes sometimes bury themselves into the snow for protection.
Arctic foxes molt twice each year. Both blue and white color phases occur, with the blue phase more common on the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands. The white color phase is more common in northern populations. Young of each color phase may occur in the same litter.