Arctic fox - Alaska Natural Heritage Program - University of Alaska

Alaska Species Ranking System Summary Report - Arctic fox
Number of Young (-5 to 5)
Average litter size 7 pups (Stephenson 2008).
1
Ecological Specialization
Dietary (-5 to 5)
Omnivorous. In the summer, feeds primarily on small mammals, including lemmings and tundra voles. If denning near the
seacoast, often depends on seabirds, such as auklets, puffins, and murres. Also feeds on berries, eggs, marine invertebrates,
fish, and scavenged remains of other animals (Audet et al. 2002, Stephenson 2008).
Habitat (-5 to 5)
Found in arctic tundra, along rocky beaches, and far out and widely dispersed on the frozen ice. Prefers to den in light,
sandy soil along riverbanks, on small hillocks, and occasionally in talus (MacDonald and Cook 2009).
Biological Total:
-5
-5
-38
Action
- variables measure current state of knowledge or extent of conservation efforts directed toward a given taxon. Higher
action scores denote greater information needs due of lack of knowledge or conservation action. Action scores range
from -40 (lower needs) to 40 (greater needs).
Management Needs (-10 to 10)
No direct management. Open to trapping and sport hunting (ADFG 2009, ADFG 2010c). Eradication efforts are eliminating
nonnative foxes from islands (Ebbert and Byrd 2002, Gibson and Byrd 2007, Williams et al. 2003).
Monitoring Needs (-10 to 10)
Not monitored, some information available from trapper questionnaires (ADFG 2007f).
Research Needs (-10 to 10)
Arctic fox populations rise and fall with cyclic changes of their prey. When food is scarce, fewer pups are successfully reared
to maturity and competition among pups for food accounts for some mortality of that age group (Stephenson 2008). Local
fluctuations in numbers are caused mainly by reproduction of local animals, juvenile survival, and immigration. Rabies is an
enzootic in most populations, and periodic epizootics have occurred in most mainland populations. Trapping and hunting are
important causes of mortality where humans co-occur (Audet et al. 2002).
Survey Needs (-10 to 10)
1341 records in Arctos (Arctos 2007). Information from trapper questionnaires (ADFG 2007f). Nonnative range on islands
known. Habitat associations, home ranges, and movement studied by Anthony (1997) in western Alaska. Studied in areas of
oil development on North Slope (Eberhardt et al. 1982).
Action Total:
Score
10
10
-10
-10
0
Supplemental Information
Harvest:
Seasonal Occurrence:
Taxonomic Significance:
Range Map
- variables do not receive numerical scores. Instead, they that are used to sort taxa to answer specific
biological or managerial questions.
Substantial, regulations
Year-round
% Global Range in Alaska: