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63-585: Ulukhaktok ( Kangiryuarmiutun ( Inuit language ) spelling Ulukhaqtuuq ( [ulukhɑqtuːq̚] ) and known until 1 April 2006 as Holman or Holman Island ) is a small hamlet on the west coast of Victoria Island , in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories , Canada. Like other small traditional communities in the territories, hunting , trapping , and fishing are major sources of income, but printmaking has taken over as

126-530: A tundra climate ( ET ) with short but cool summers and long cold winters. Kangiryuarmiutun It is derived from Kangiryuak (meaning "the big bay"), and named for the people that lived there, the Kangiryuarmiut, which is known by its English name Prince Albert Sound , Victoria Island . Victoria Island is the ancestral home of the Copper Inuit. The comparison of some animal names in

189-631: A day, and managed as much as 155 km (96 mi) in a single day. The Arctic fox has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004. However, the Scandinavian mainland population is acutely endangered, despite being legally protected from hunting and persecution for several decades. The estimate of the adult population in all of Norway, Sweden, and Finland is fewer than 200 individuals. Of these, especially in Finland,

252-575: A family of foxes can eat dozens of lemmings each day. In some locations in northern Canada, a high seasonal abundance of migrating birds that breed in the area may provide an important food source. On the coast of Iceland and other islands, their diet consists predominantly of birds. During April and May, the Arctic fox also preys on ringed seal pups when the young animals are confined to a snow den and are relatively helpless. They also consume berries and seaweed, so they may be considered omnivores . This fox

315-515: A generally rounded body shape to minimize the escape of body heat . The Arctic fox preys on many small creatures such as lemmings , voles , ringed seal pups, fish, waterfowl , and seabirds . It also eats carrion , berries, seaweed, and insects and other small invertebrates . Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young. Natural predators of

378-429: A low surface area to volume ratio , as evidenced by its generally compact body shape, short muzzle and legs, and short, thick ears. Since less of its surface area is exposed to the Arctic cold, less heat escapes from its body. The Arctic fox has a functional hearing range between 125 Hz–16 kHz with a sensitivity that is ≤ 60 dB in air, and an average peak sensitivity of 24 dB at 4 kHz. Overall,

441-558: A month. Nomadism is found in 3.4% of the foxes, and loop migrations (where the fox travels to a new range, then returns to its home range) are the least common at 1.1%. Arctic foxes in Canada that undergo nomadism and migrations voyage from the Canadian archipelago to Greenland and northwestern Canada. The duration and distance traveled between males and females is not significantly different. Arctic foxes closer to goose colonies (located at

504-489: A parka in their collection. In 2001 the Winnipeg Art Gallery curated an exhibition "Holman: Forty Years of Graphic Art/Quarante Ans D'Art Graphique " which produced an exhibition catalogue authored by Winnipeg Art Gallery Curator Darlene Coward Wight . The Holman Eskimo Co-op is now involved in arts and crafts, retailing, the hotel business, and cable television. It operates both a Canada Post outlet, and

567-481: A population of 408 living in 134 of its 159 total private dwellings, a change of 3% from its 2016 population of 396 . With a land area of 120.71 km (46.61 sq mi), it had a population density of 3.4/km (8.8/sq mi) in 2021. In 2016, 370 (96.4%) of its residents were Inuvialuit or Inuit and the rest (3.6%) were non-Indigenous. The main languages in the community are Inuinnaqtun ( Inuvialuktun ) and English. The hamlet has seen both sides of

630-399: A population of around 20 adults. The Fennoscandian population thus numbers around 140 breeding adults. Even after local lemming peaks, the Arctic fox population tends to collapse back to levels dangerously close to nonviability. The Arctic fox is classed as a "prohibited new organism" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 , preventing it from being imported into

693-404: A single territory more proficiently to increase pup survival. When resources are scarce, competition increases and the number of foxes in a territory decreases. On the coasts of Svalbard , the frequency of complex social structures is larger than inland foxes that remain monogamous due to food availability. In Scandinavia, there are more complex social structures compared to other populations due to

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756-560: Is a 'true fox' belonging to the genus Vulpes of the fox tribe Vulpini , which consists of 12 extant species. It is classified under the subfamily Caninae of the canid family Canidae . Although it has previously been assigned to its own monotypic genus Alopex , recent genetic evidence now places it in the genus Vulpes along with the majority of other foxes. Arctic fox Kit fox Swift fox Corsac fox Rüppell's fox Red fox Cape fox Blanford's fox Fennec fox Raccoon dog Bat-eared fox It

819-464: Is a significant bird-egg predator, consuming eggs of all except the largest tundra bird species. Arctic foxes survive harsh winters and food scarcity by either hoarding food or storing body fat subcutaneously and viscerally. At the beginning of winter, one Arctic fox has approximately 14740 kJ of energy storage from fat alone. Using the lowest BMR value measured in Arctic foxes, an average sized fox of 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) would need 471 kJ/day during

882-610: Is also present in Canadian boreal forests (northeastern Alberta , northern Saskatchewan , northern Manitoba , Northern Ontario , Northern Quebec , and Newfoundland and Labrador ) and the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. They are found at elevations up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) above sea level and have been seen on sea ice close to the North Pole . The Arctic fox is the only land mammal native to Iceland. It came to

945-413: Is involved in the fatty acid metabolism , while AKT2 pertains to the glucose metabolism and insulin signaling. The average mass specific BMR and total BMR are 37% and 27% lower in the winter than the summer. The Arctic fox decreases its BMR via metabolic depression in the winter to conserve fat storage and minimize energy requirements. According to the most recent data, the lower critical temperature of

1008-574: Is possible that they use their sense of smell to also track down polar bears. Additionally, Arctic foxes can smell and find frozen lemmings under 46–77 cm (18–30 in) of snow, and can detect a subnivean seal lair under 150 cm (59 in) of snow. The Arctic fox contains advantageous genes to overcome extreme cold and starvation periods. Transcriptome sequencing has identified two genes that are under positive selection : Glycolipid transfer protein domain containing 1 (GLTPD1) and V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2 (AKT2). GLTPD1

1071-400: Is seen between males and females. The tail is about 30 cm (12 in) long in both sexes. The height at the shoulder is 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in). On average males weigh 3.5 kg (7.7 lb), with a range of 3.2 to 9.4 kg (7.1 to 20.7 lb), while females average 2.9 kg (6.4 lb), with a range of 1.4 to 3.2 kg (3.1 to 7.1 lb). Vulpes lagopus

1134-498: Is the name of the small island outcrop to the east-southeast in the Amundsen Gulf . In 2006, the community was renamed, Ulukhaktok , the traditional Kangiryuarmiutun name for the area, which means "the place where ulu parts are found", or "a large bluff where we used to collect raw material to make ulus". The large bluff that overlooks Ulukhaktok was the source that provided the slate and copper used to make ulus and give

1197-575: Is thus not endangered, but two Arctic fox subpopulations are. One is on Medny Island ( Commander Islands , Russia), which was reduced by some 85–90%, to around 90 animals, as a result of mange caused by an ear tick introduced by dogs in the 1970s. The population is currently under treatment with antiparasitic drugs, but the result is still uncertain. The other threatened population is the one in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Kola Peninsula ). This population decreased drastically around

1260-736: The Inuvialuit and Copper Inuit populations indigenous to the Coppermine River watershed and Bernard Harbour seasonal areas on the mainland. The majority of Ulukhaktokmiut come from a varied background, with family ties extending mainly to the Coppermine River community of Kugluktuk , Nunavut and the communities of the Mackenzie River Delta and Beaufort Sea , though some families have relatives as far away as Gjoa Haven on King William Island, and along

1323-552: The Northern Hemisphere and common throughout the Arctic tundra biome . It is well adapted to living in cold environments, and is best known for its thick, warm fur that is also used as camouflage. It has a large and very fluffy tail. In the wild, most individuals do not live past their first year but some exceptional ones survive up to 11 years. Its body length ranges from 46 to 68 cm (18 to 27 in), with

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1386-636: The Siglitun and Kangiryuarmiutun subdialects of the Inuinnaqtun dialect of Inuvialuktun: This article related to the Indigenous languages of the Americas is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Arctic fox The Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus ), also known as the white fox , polar fox , or snow fox , is a small species of fox native to the Arctic regions of

1449-610: The north slope of Alaska as far as Port Clarence on the Seward Peninsula . Some families are descendants of the Danish explorer-trader Christian Klengenberg . Others are descended from two members of the Vilhjalmur Stefansson -led Canadian Arctic Expedition . The first was Natkusiak, a friend of Stefansson, and the primary guide and lead hunter of the expedition. Originally from Port Clarence, Alaska he

1512-495: The 1920s. The program was successful in terms of increasing the population of blue foxes, but their predation of Aleutian Canada geese conflicted with the goal of preserving that species. The Arctic fox is losing ground to the larger red fox . This has been attributed to climate change —the camouflage value of its lighter coat decreases with less snow cover. Red foxes dominate where their ranges begin to overlap by killing Arctic foxes and their kits. An alternative explanation of

1575-426: The Arctic fox are golden eagles , Arctic wolves , polar bears , wolverines , red foxes , and grizzly bears . Arctic foxes must endure a temperature difference of up to 90–100 °C (160–180 °F) between the external environment and their internal core temperature. To prevent heat loss, the Arctic fox curls up tightly tucking its legs and head under its body and behind its furry tail. This position gives

1638-479: The Arctic fox is at −7 °C (19 °F) in the winter and 5 °C (41 °F) in the summer. It was commonly believed that the Arctic fox had a lower critical temperature below −40 °C (−40 °F). However, some scientists have concluded that this statistic is not accurate since it was never tested using the proper equipment. About 22% of the total body surface area of the Arctic fox dissipates heat readily compared to red foxes at 33%. The regions that have

1701-487: The Arctic fox is even classified as critically endangered , because even though the animal was declared a protected species in Finland in 1940, the population has not recovered despite that. As a result, the populations of Arctic fox have been carefully studied and inventoried in places such as the Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve (Sweden), which has the Arctic fox as its symbol. The abundance of

1764-445: The Arctic fox tends to fluctuate in a cycle along with the population of lemmings and voles (a 3- to 4-year cycle). The populations are especially vulnerable during the years when the prey population crashes, and uncontrolled trapping has almost eradicated two subpopulations. The pelts of Arctic foxes with a slate-blue coloration were especially valuable. They were transported to various previously fox-free Aleutian Islands during

1827-521: The Arctic foxes hearing is less sensitive than the dog and the kit fox. The Arctic fox and the kit fox have a low upper-frequency limit compared to the domestic dog and other carnivores. The Arctic fox can easily hear lemmings burrowing under 4-5 inches of snow. When it has located its prey, it pounces and punches through the snow to catch its prey. The Arctic fox also has a keen sense of smell. They can smell carcasses that are often left by polar bears anywhere from 10 to 40 km (6.2 to 24.9 mi). It

1890-571: The Holman Eskimo Co-op include Mary K. Okheena and Helen Kalvak . The local school, Helen Kalvak Elihakvik is named after her. In the 1960s and 1970s Holman Eskimo Co-operative also created a number of sealskin products for southern markets, including parkas, tapestries and stuffed animals. The sealskin parkas were made to last and still show up on the market. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife also has

1953-765: The Tibetan Plateau experienced tundra-like conditions during the Pliocene and harbored cold-adapted mammals that later spread to North America and Eurasia during the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million-11,700 years ago). Besides the nominate subspecies , the common Arctic fox, V. l. lagopus , four other subspecies of this fox have been described: The Arctic fox has a circumpolar distribution and occurs in Arctic tundra habitats in northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America. Its range includes Greenland, Iceland, Fennoscandia, Svalbard , Jan Mayen (where it

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2016-476: The area were Natkusiak and his family in 1937. Two years later, the Hudson's Bay Company relocated from Walker Bay and a Roman Catholic mission was opened the same year. The English name, Holman , was in honour of J.R. Holman, a member of Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield 's 1853 expedition in search for the Arctic explorer, John Franklin . The community was sometimes known as Holman Island . This, however,

2079-426: The back with light grey around the abdomen in summer. The blue morph is often a dark blue, brown, or grey color year-round. Although the blue allele is dominant over the white allele, 99% of the Arctic fox population is the white morph. Two similar mutations to MC1R cause the blue color and the lack of seasonal color change. The fur of the Arctic fox provides the best insulation of any mammal. The Arctic fox has

2142-409: The best sources of historical and large-scale population data are hunting bag records and questionnaires. Several potential sources of error occur in such data collections. In addition, numbers vary widely between years due to the large population fluctuations. However, the total population of the Arctic fox must be in the order of several hundred thousand animals. The world population of Arctic foxes

2205-503: The coasts) are less likely to migrate. Meanwhile, foxes experiencing low-density lemming populations are more likely to make sea ice trips. Residency is common in the Arctic fox population so that they can maintain their territories. Migratory foxes have a mortality rate >3 times higher than resident foxes. Nomadic behavior becomes more common as the foxes age. In July 2019, the Norwegian Polar Institute reported

2268-536: The community its name. Thus, the people who live there are called Ulukhaktokmiut [ulukhɑqtuːq̚miut] ("people of"). Ulukhaktokmiut is a recent word as no people actually lived permanently in this area until the opening of the Hudson's Bay Company store, although people did visit the area to obtain the ulu materials and camp en route to other nomadic seasonal camp areas. Inuit traded with mainland groups as far east as King William Island and as far south as Great Bear Lake although most commerce occurred with

2331-407: The den when 3 to 4 weeks old and are weaned by 9 weeks of age. Arctic foxes are primarily monogamous and both parents will care for the offspring. When predators and prey are abundant, Arctic foxes are more likely to be promiscuous (exhibited in both males and females) and display more complex social structures. Larger packs of foxes consisting of breeding or non-breeding males or females can guard

2394-506: The early Pliocene (5.08–3.6 MYA) were found along with many other precursors of modern mammals that evolved during the Pliocene (5.3–2.6 MYA). It is believed that this ancient fox is the ancestor of the modern Arctic fox. Globally, the Pliocene was about 2–3 °C warmer than today, and the Arctic during the summer in the mid-Pliocene was 8 °C warmer. By using stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of fossils, researchers claim that

2457-458: The fox the smallest surface area to volume ratio and protects the least insulated areas. Arctic foxes also stay warm by getting out of the wind and residing in their dens. Although the Arctic foxes are active year-round and do not hibernate, they attempt to preserve fat by reducing their locomotor activity. They build up their fat reserves in the autumn, sometimes increasing their body weight by more than 50%. This provides greater insulation during

2520-439: The fox's coat also determines where they are most likely to be found. The white morph mainly lives inland and blends in with the snowy tundra, while the blue morph occupies the coasts because its dark color blends in with the cliffs and rocks. During the winter, 95.5% of Arctic foxes utilize commuting trips, which remain within the fox's home range. Commuting trips in Arctic foxes last less than 3 days and occur between 0–2.9 times

2583-699: The fuel delivery contract, and is the local Aklak Air agent. Ulukhaktok is also the location of the world's most northern golf course and hosts the "Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament" every summer. Over the years they have managed to attract players from the Edmonton Oilers and the Edmonton Elks , as well as golfers from other countries. This tournament is growing and features excursions to traditional areas where Arctic char and Northern Lake trout are harvested for subsistence as well as limited commercial fishing and hunting. Ulukhaktok has

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2646-413: The greatest heat loss are the nose, ears, legs, and feet, which is useful in the summer for thermal heat regulation. Also, the Arctic fox has a beneficial mechanism in their nose for evaporative cooling like dogs, which keeps the brain cool during the summer and exercise. The thermal conductivity of Arctic fox fur in the summer and winter is the same; however, the thermal conductance of the Arctic fox in

2709-489: The isolated North Atlantic island at the end of the last ice age , walking over the frozen sea. The Arctic Fox Center in Súðavík contains an exhibition on the Arctic fox and conducts studies on the influence of tourism on the population. Its range during the last ice age was much more extensive than it is now, and fossil remains of the Arctic fox have been found over much of northern Europe and Siberia. The color of

2772-471: The most recent phylogeny, the Arctic fox and the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) diverged approximately 3.17MYA. Additionally, the Arctic fox diverged from its sister group, the kit fox ( Vulpes macrotis ), at about 0.9MYA. The origins of the Arctic fox have been described by the "out of Tibet" hypothesis. On the Tibetan Plateau , fossils of the extinct ancestral Arctic fox ( Vulpes qiuzhudingi ) from

2835-608: The north. Ulukhaktok is home to the Holman Eskimo Co-op founded in 1961 by the residents of the community with the help of Roman Catholic priest , Father Henri Tardy. The Co-op was formed to provide income to the residents of the community by producing arts and crafts, and is famous for the production of prints. Formally Holman Prints, artists in the community sell their art though the Ulukhaktok Arts Centre. Famous artists who have produced prints for

2898-746: The presence of the red fox. Also, conservationists are supplying the declining population with supplemental food. One unique case, however, is Iceland where monogamy is the most prevalent. The older offspring (1-year-olds) often remain within their parent's territory even though predators are absent and there are fewer resources, which may indicate kin selection in the fox. Arctic foxes generally eat any small animal they can find, including lemmings , voles , other rodents, hares , birds , eggs , fish, and carrion . They scavenge on carcasses left by larger predators such as wolves and polar bears , and in times of scarcity also eat their feces . In areas where they are present, lemmings are their most common prey, and

2961-774: The primary source of income in recent years. The two principal languages in Ulukhaktok are the Kangiryuarmiutun dialect of Inuinnaqtun , which is part of the Inuvialuktun group, and English. The village has the world's most northerly golf course . The community was covered in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement as part of their land claims and is in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region . The first people to settle in

3024-403: The red fox previously occupied. Shelter quality is more important to the Arctic fox than the proximity of spring prey to a den. The main prey of the Arctic fox in the tundra are lemmings, which is why the white fox is often called the "lemming fox". The white fox's reproduction rates reflect the lemming population density, which cyclically fluctuates every 3–5 years. When lemmings are abundant,

3087-426: The red fox's gains involves the gray wolf . Historically, it has kept red fox numbers down, but as the wolf has been hunted to near extinction in much of its former range, the red fox population has grown larger, and it has taken over the niche of top predator . In areas of northern Europe, programs are in place that allow the hunting of red foxes in the Arctic fox's previous range. As with many other game species,

3150-808: The rush for mineral exploration and has regained an appreciation for its wild places and culturally sensitive areas where long-gone relatives once survived and lived with the ice and snow. Some private concerns have witnessed the zeal with which these locals defend their competing interests for the same tracts of land and resources. Other companies have learned to work with residents and this has produced some hope for mineral development around traditional lands and other cultural areas of these Inuvialuit and their fellow Inuit brethren. Arts and crafts are also another source of income with international recognition of local artisans. Occasionally some residents travel to such places as San Francisco , California or Melbourne , Australia , but more often to other regional centres across

3213-527: The start of the 20th century as a result of extreme fur prices, which caused severe hunting also during population lows. The population has remained at a low density for more than 90 years, with additional reductions during the last decade. The total population estimate for 1997 is around 60 adults in Sweden, 11 adults in Finland, and 50 in Norway. From Kola, there are indications of a similar situation, suggesting

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3276-596: The story of a yearling female which was fitted with a GPS tracking device and then released by their researchers on the east coast of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard group of islands. The young fox crossed the polar ice from the islands to Greenland in 21 days, a distance of 1,512 km (940 mi). She then moved on to Ellesmere Island in northern Canada , covering a total recorded distance of 3,506 km (2,179 mi) in 76 days, before her GPS tracker stopped working. She averaged just over 46 km (29 mi)

3339-588: The summer are accessed the following spring prior to reproduction. The Arctic fox lives in some of the most frigid extremes on the planet, but they do not start to shiver until the temperature drops to −70 °C (−94 °F). Among its adaptations for survival in the cold is its dense, multilayered pelage , which provides excellent insulation. Additionally, the Arctic fox is the only canid whose foot pads are covered in fur. There are two genetically distinct coat color morphs : white and blue. The white morph has seasonal camouflage , white in winter and brown along

3402-408: The sun, which makes the den warmer. Arctic foxes prefer large, maze-like dens for predator evasion and a quick escape especially when red foxes are in the area. Natal dens are typically found in rugged terrain, which may provide more protection for the pups. But, the parents will also relocate litters to nearby dens to avoid predators. When red foxes are not in the region, Arctic foxes will use dens that

3465-450: The temperature in their paws independently from the core temperature. If the core temperature drops, the pad of the foot will remain constantly above the tissue freezing point. The average head-and-body length of the male is 55 cm (22 in), with a range of 46 to 68 cm (18 to 27 in), while the female averages 52 cm (20 in) with a range of 41 to 55 cm (16 to 22 in). In some regions, no difference in size

3528-438: The tissue freezing point (−1 °C (30 °F)) when standing on cold substrates without losing mobility or feeling pain. They do this by increasing vasodilation and blood flow to a capillary rete in the pad surface, which is in direct contact with the snow rather than the entire foot. They selectively vasoconstrict blood vessels in the center of the foot pad, which conserves energy and minimizes heat loss. Arctic foxes maintain

3591-499: The white fox can give birth to 18 pups, but they often do not reproduce when food is scarce. The "coastal fox" or blue fox lives in an environment where food availability is relatively consistent, and they will have up to 5 pups every year. Breeding usually takes place in April and May, and the gestation period is about 52 days. Litters may contain as many as 25 (the largest litter size in the order Carnivora ). The young emerge from

3654-741: The winter and a source of energy when food is scarce. In the spring, the Arctic fox's attention switches to reproduction and a home for their potential offspring. They live in large dens in frost-free, slightly raised ground. These are complex systems of tunnels covering as much as 1,000 m (11,000 sq ft) and are often in eskers , long ridges of sedimentary material deposited in formerly glaciated regions. These dens may be in existence for many decades and are used by many generations of foxes. Arctic foxes tend to select dens that are easily accessible with many entrances, and that are clear from snow and ice making it easier to burrow in. The Arctic fox builds and chooses dens that face southward towards

3717-412: The winter is lower than the summer since fur thickness increases by 140%. In the summer, the thermal conductance of the Arctic foxes body is 114% higher than the winter, but their body core temperature is constant year-round. One way that Arctic foxes regulate their body temperature is by utilizing a countercurrent heat exchange in the blood of their legs. Arctic foxes can constantly keep their feet above

3780-409: The winter to survive. In Canada, Arctic foxes acquire from snow goose eggs at a rate of 2.7–7.3 eggs/h and store 80–97% of them. Scats provide evidence that they eat the eggs during the winter after caching. Isotope analysis shows that eggs can still be eaten after a year, and the metabolizable energy of a stored goose egg only decreases by 11% after 60 days; a fresh egg has about 816 kJ. Eggs stored in

3843-694: Was hunted to extinction) and other islands in the Barents Sea , northern Russia, islands in the Bering Sea , Alaska , and Canada as far south as Hudson Bay . In the late 19th century, it was introduced into the Aleutian Islands southwest of Alaska. However, the population on the Aleutian Islands is currently being eradicated in conservation efforts to preserve the local bird population. It mostly inhabits tundra and pack ice , but

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3906-539: Was later known as Billy Banksland, this name coming from his time trapping Arctic foxes on Banks Island . Another member of the expedition with relatives in the area was the Alaskan Iñupiat , Ikey Bolt from Point Hope . Married to Klengenberg's daughter Etna, they lived for several years at Rymer Point before moving to Minto Inlet and eventually to Coppermine (now Kugluktuk). In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada , Ulukhaktok had

3969-441: Was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758 as Canis lagopus . The type specimen was recovered from Lapland , Sweden . The generic name vulpes is Latin for "fox". The specific name lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek λαγώς ( lagōs , " hare ") and πούς ( pous , "foot"), referring to the hair on its feet similar to those found in cold-climate species of hares. Looking at

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