Arctic Fox

The hardy Arctic fox can survive polar temperatures of minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes tunneling into the snow for shelter. The fox’s white winter fur serves as camouflage, turning gray or brown in the summer. When prey is scarce, the fox follows the Arctic’s foremost predator, the polar bear, to scavenge its leftovers. But even an animal as clever and resourceful as a fox is feeling the squeeze of global warming. Throughout the Arctic, warming temperatures are allowing red foxes to expand their range into the Arctic fox’s territory. The larger and more aggressive red foxes have a competitive advantage over their snow-colored cousins, contributing to significant Arctic fox declines in many areas.

Scientific name: Alopex lagopus
Region: Arctic