By Jenna Bailey | Associate Program Officer
Critically endangered Arctic foxes successfully breed in Finland
For over 25 years, Arctic foxes have not bred in Finland—until now.
This summer, Arctic fox nesting inspections revealed that three pups had been born to an Arctic fox couple in the Enontekiö mountainous area in Northern Lapland. This is the first time in over 25 years that the Arctic fox has successfully bred in Finland as the last confirmed breeding took place in 1996. This successful breeding is a big win for Metsähallitus, National Parks Finland, and WWF-Finland, who have been working together for decades to try and restore the Arctic fox population across the Nordic region.
“The results of long-term conservation work over the past 20 years are now becoming visible,” said Specialist Tuomo Ollila from National Parks Finland. “This is not the finish line, but good progress.”
The Arctic fox is a critically endangered species in Finland. In fact, at the beginning of the 2000’s, the entire Nordic Arctic fox population was down to only approximately 100 adult individuals. The Arctic fox is primarily a carnivore that lives inland, away from the coasts. They are dependent on the presence of smaller animals (most often lemmings or voles) to survive. Smaller rodent populations waver between times of abundance and scarcity, which leaves the Arctic fox vulnerable when these creatures are low in number.
With a conservation plan in place, the number of observations of Arctic foxes across Finland, Norway, and Sweden have begun to increase in recent years and the population appears to be on the rise. This successful breeding of three Arctic fox pups in Finland is a huge win for the region.
What WWF is Doing
WWF-Finland has been working with Metsähallitus and National Parks Finland to use monitoring and conservations tools on the critically endangered Arctic fox population. These tools are proving to be successful! “It is unique to see the return of a species that has disappeared from Finland’s breeding species for decades,” said Petteri Tolvanen, WWF-Finland Program Manager. “What is even more surprising, is that it returns at a time like this where climate change is progressing in the northern regions even faster than anticipated. Global warming and its consequences are the greatest threat to the Arctic fox, in the long term.”
One of the conservation tools that is proving to be successful is supplemental feeding. National Parks Finland and WWF-Finland have taken nearly 30 feeding dispensers filled with dog food to areas that are near old breeding sites and where the Arctic fox has often previously been spotted. These dispensers are built in such a way that one of their main food competitors, red foxes, cannot access the food inside of them. The goal of supplemental feeding is to support the survival of Arctic fox pups throughout their first winter, as well as to keep adult foxes near their nests during weak prey population years. It is exciting to see that these tools, including supplemental feeding, are leading to population growth and successful breeding in the region.
How You Can Help!
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