:quality(80)){kind=spacer}
Food
lemmings and other prey
Lifetime
15 years on average
Weight
3 to 4 pounds
Number of youngsters
5 to 8 youngsters
Wear time
7 to 8 weeks
IUCN Status
safe
EEP?
no
Eat what's on your plate
Arctic foxes are not picky eaters. They can’t afford to be, because they live in the arctic where food is sometimes hard to come by. They prefer to eat small mammals, but will also eat insects, berries, carrion and even poo from other animals. In the winter their diet mainly consists of sea birds, fish and seals. In the summer arctic foxes mostly eat lemmings.
:focal(1594x890:1595x891):quality(90))
Theme area: A Matter of Taste
You’ll see the Arctic Fox in the ‘A Matter of Taste’ theme area. Here, you’ll delve into the world of food: how animals find food, hunt, or avoid being eaten.
Listen closely
Arctic foxes often hunt for rodents, like lemmings. It can sometimes be difficult to find their prey, especially in the snow. Lemmings live in tunnels underground and under the snow. Arctic foxes hunt for lemmings by listening very closely. They tilt their head and listen for the sound of a lemming walking underneath the snow. When they hear one, they jump straight in the air and nose dive into the snow.