Arctic Fox under threat from Red Fox

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Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) live in mountainous tundra habitats around the north polar region in Russia’s far north and other polar regions.

In the journal Polar Biology a new study reveals the intrusion of a red fox into Arctic fox territory. Previous studies have identified the foxes retreating from the southern edge of their range. Scientists say that this is because red fox populations are expanding and, where the two overlap, red foxes dominate their smaller Arctic cousins.

Arctic Fox on the run from Red Fox intrusion in their territory

 
Although direct observations of this competition had been made in Sweden, researchers from Russia and Norway wanted to find out whether Arctic foxes further north were under the same pressure.

“We were surprised to meet a red fox in our study area on the Russian Arctic tundra because this species is very rare in such northern territories,” explained researcher Anna Rodnikova.

She and her team observed a red fox approaching an Arctic fox breeding den on the Yamal Peninsula, in north-western Siberia, during their summer study.

The Arctic fox was not at the den but when it returned it did so hesitantly, stopping 50m away and barking when it saw the red fox.

Although the red fox looked in poor condition, it was clearly the dominant one during this encounter.

After these initial defensive barks, the Arctic fox withdrew from the competition and did not return to the den.

The dominant Red Fox is pushing north due to climate change

Researchers suggest that this encounter is strong evidence that red foxes are responsible for the arctic foxes’ retreat. Their study was part of a project using predators as indicators of changes in the Arctic. Although their numbers are in the healthy hundreds of thousands, Arctic foxes are still considered an important indicator of climate change.

In red, the territory of the Arctic Fox


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Holte Ender

Holte Ender will always try to see your point of view, but sometimes it is hard to stick his head that far up his @$$.
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Lavinia
12 years ago

Guys, the red fox is the one we need to worry about. It’s not used to being up there and eventually it won’t be able to hack it. The red fox is badass but the arctic fox is a specialist in that area. Thank goodness the arctic fox isn’t endangered either…and we’ll get this global warming thing figured out. Technology will advance and we’ll fix it…after it gets really bad. But we’ll fix it.

12 years ago

Then our governments act to address the situation – using our taxes to do so.

Oh dear…..our taxes have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan and Libya and….

Welcome to democracy people.

We’d sort it out but our politicians need their pensions so…sorry Arctic Fox….you’re toast.

I’m so ashamed to be human.

John Barleycorn
12 years ago

This is so sad in many ways. I cannot for the life of me imagine anyone not believing in the existence of global warming/climate change.

Beekin
12 years ago

More evidence that will be ignored by all except the few, we’re on a slippery slope folks.

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