Saving the Arctic fox in Fennoscandia
The Fennoscandian arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) is a priority species according to the EC Habitat directive and is classified as critically endangered in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Intensive hunting pressure led to a drastic population decline in the early 1900’s and despite legal protection since 1928 (Sweden), 1930 (Norway) and 1940 (Finland), it has still not recovered. Today, the Fennoscandian arctic fox population consists of approximately 150 individuals. The present threats to the arctic fox population are a decline in food availability; in summer Norwegian lemmings Lemmus lemmus and in winter carcasses of reindeer Rangifer tarandus; and an increase in the distribution of red foxes Vulpes vulpes during the 20th century.
Project aims and objectives
The overall aim for the project is to preserve the arctic fox as a species in Fennoscandia (Sweden, Norway, Finland). The arctic fox is a part of our biological diversity and the preservation of biological diversity is one of WWF’s goals. To halt the declining population trend and enhance the chances of recovery, we are going to provide supplementary food at inhabited dens during winter time for three years. It is during the winter, the arctic fox is having its hardest time to survive, especially after that the reindeer herding practise has changed. Earlier, there was always some reindeer left in the mountains during winter, but today almost all are removed away into the lowland forest, i.e. today few, if any, reindeer succumb close to the arcic fox dens in winter. Therefore, chunks/carcasses of veterinary controlled meat are hidden in the snow close to the dens, twice a month. Two core areas in Sweden have been selected, Vindelfjällen and Helags, where arctic fox have been studied for longer periods and where the logistics are well established with the local people.
