Researchers Hope for Arctic Fox Comeback in Finland

Researchers Hope for Arctic Fox Comeback in Finland

Written by Nick
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Published on December 5, 2016
Artic fox feature
Artic fox feature
Photo from Jonatan Pie/Unsplash

Wildlife researchers in Finland may soon have cause for celebration: Arctic foxes have been found attempting to breed in the wild for the first time since 1996. The amorous Arctic pair was spotted thanks to camera traps set up by the World Wildlife Federation’s (WWF) Finland branch, in conjunction with Metsahallitus, the Finnish state forest enterprise.

Over the previous two decades, Arctic foxes have only been glimpsed periodically in Finland, prompting researchers to closely monitor the few known specimens. While Arctic foxes still have healthy populations in places like North America and Russia, they have been in danger of disappearing from Nordic countries like Finland.

Curiously, the red fox appears to be the culprit. This species has been encroaching on the Arctic fox’s territory by moving north, most likely in a bid to escape rising temperatures further south. The red fox has caused an imbalance in the food chain, as it hunts the same prey, and sometimes kills its native competition outright. Voles and lemmings have also been affected by the invasive red fox.

Artic fox feature image
Photo from Jonatan Pie/Unsplash

The discovery of a new den means there is hope for growth in the population of Arctic foxes. Cameras set up by wildlife officials were able to capture hundreds of images of daily life of the two foxes living in the den. Researchers observed one fox with all white fur and one with dark, and the pair was seen playing and bonding, as well as what scientists are calling an “attempt to breed.” Unfortunately, one side of the pair seems to have disappeared before they could complete this task.

Featured Image from Jonatan Pie/Unsplash

Nick

Nick