A tale of two foxes

Wapusk National Park

 

Side view of arctic fox walking in snow at Wapusk National Park.

An arctic fox trots past the camera on a warm winter day. Its smaller stature and shortened ears and snout help it to conserve heat.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A slate coloured arctic fox scurries past the camera to the left of the frame.

Arctic foxes alter their coat colour from pure white to shades of browns and black depending on their habitat and time of year.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A red fox, with tall stature and elongated snout and ears is pictured walking through the snow.

The larger size and facial features of the red fox can be clearly seen on this photo captured in March 2017.
Date: 2017:11:23 14:08:55
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A wide shot of a red fox walking slowly along the top of the snow.

This red fox treads carefully along the top of the snow on a warm March day in Wapusk. Both species of foxes in Wapusk feed on small mammals such as lemmings that overwinter beneath the snow.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

An arctic fox lit by the camera flash in the middle of the night.

The infrared flash on the trail cameras can capture images even in total darkness!
© University of Saskatchewan

Wapusk National Park is located where the boreal forest transitions to the Arctic tundra. Due to this meeting of ecosystems, both boreal and sub-arctic species are found in Wapusk.

A great example of this is range crossover is between the red and arctic fox species.

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a more southerly species and adapted for warmer climates, seems to have expanded its range to the north. The red fox encounters and competes with the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), its smaller, cold-climate-adapted cousin.

The red fox is larger and heavier, with a longer snout and ears than its arctic counterpart. While both species have a varied diet and will eat almost anything (rodents, berries, geese, eggs, carrion) the red fox is a generalist, meaning that it can tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions.

The Arctic fox, on the other hand, is highly specialized. It is adapted for high winds and low temperatures. It has a very thick winter coat and its smaller ears and nose allow it to conserve body heat during the harsh winters by minimizing wind exposure.

As the climate in the region warms, the red fox appears to be becoming more abundant in Wapusk and so may push the Arctic fox from the southern edges of its current range.

Here we have pictured arctic and red foxes caught on remote cameras during the winter of 2016-17.

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