Animal identifier ยท Dogs and foxes
Vulpes lagopus
Arctic tundra and coasts. White in winter, brown-gray in summer. Small furry tracks that look soft-edged in snow.
What does a arctic fox look like?
White in winter, brown above and cream below in summer. Short ears and a bushy tail.
What do arctic fox tracks look like?
Fur fills the print in winter, so the edges look blurred. Location is tundra, not a temperate forest.
- Small furry tracks that look soft-edged in snow
- About 2 inches, rounder than red fox because of fur
- Trail on tundra or sea ice
- White coat in winter if seen
- Scat on rocks and along the coast
What does arctic fox poop look like?
Small tapered droppings, sometimes with lemming hair or seabird remains. Do not handle droppings. Several species carry parasites that stay in the soil around a latrine.
Where you find it
Arctic tundra and coasts. White in winter, brown-gray in summer. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
What to do next
- Watch from a distance
- Do not handle droppings
- If the animal is injured or inside a building, call a local wildlife officer
This page is a field guide, not a permit to approach wildlife. If an animal is injured, aggressive, or inside a house, call a local wildlife officer.
Animals it is confused with
- Red fox identification
- All animal identification pages
- Identify an animal from a photo, track, or description
Small, soft-edged prints in tundra snow. The fur makes the pad edges hard to see.
How to tell a arctic fox from similar animals
Use the track, the dropping, and the place together. One print is not enough.
- Red fox. A dainty canid print. Red-orange body, black stockings, white tip on the tail.
Arctic fox field marks
- Small furry tracks that look soft-edged in snow
- About 2 inches, rounder than red fox because of fur
- Trail on tundra or sea ice
- White coat in winter if seen
Where the sign shows up
Arctic tundra and coasts. White in winter, brown-gray in summer. Typical places: field. Year-round where the species lives. Tracks show best in mud, sand, and snow.
Fur fills the print in winter, so the edges look blurred. Location is tundra, not a temperate forest. Small tapered droppings, sometimes with lemming hair or seabird remains.
Common questions
What do Arctic fox tracks look like?
Small, soft-edged prints in tundra snow. The fur makes the pad edges hard to see.