Red Foxes, Coastal Plain, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Hey Folks,

Here is a photo from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge I took one evening, around 1am during our Canning River Rafting trip.

These red fox kits were playing just outside their den. I spent quite a bit of time, patiently trying to get close enough to photograph them. These foxes were pretty wary, and if I approached too quickly they’d duck down into their den. The interconnected network of burrows meant they could, and would, popup anywhere, often 50-60 yards away a few minutes later.

Climate Change and Arctic Wildlife

Red foxes appear to be moving further and further north with the warming climate; longer summers and less harsh weather in the winters means they’re able to survive where previously they didn’t.

The red fox is larger than their arctic cousins, the Arctic fox, and are (apparently) starting to cause quite a dent in the population of arctic fox, in some areas. Each year I’ve been to the coastal plain I have seen fewer arctic foxes than the year before, and seen more red foxes than previously.

Of course, both the species are cute, but it’s a shame to see the arctic fox, which is such an amazing survivor, threatened by this larger species.

Arctic foxes can stand in temperatures down as low as minus 40degrees F, and exhibit no changes in their metabolism at all. That’s insane (the muskox does the same down to minus 70, but they’re MUCH larger body sized, and have incredibly long thick coats – they LOOK like they might be able to do something like that).

I’m always hoping I can find this fox den again when we visit the Refuge;  I know exactly where it is, and maybe we’ll get lucky and find some new fox kits to photograph. If you’re interested in our ANWR rafting trip, please contact me asap; this trip always fills.

It’s a treat to visit the Refuge and spend time there. I’m always keen as mustard to get back there again. We travel by raft all the way from the Continental Divide in the Brooks Mountain range to the coastal plain near the Beaufort Sea. It’s simply a fantastic trip.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the red fox kits photo above.

More from ANWR

Here’s a short video from our multi-day Canning River Rafting Trip, in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We spend anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks floating the Canning River and hiking, exploring the refuge, depending on the year.

A little video like this doesn’t even touch the surface of this float trip. But hopefully it catches at least a little of the feel of the trip.

Because of the nature of the logistics here, typically, the maximum number of people on this trip is 3, plus your guide. If you have more than 3 people, please call or email to discuss trip options.

Enjoy the video. I just recorded the music for it this afternoon; hope you like it.

Cheers

Cheers

Carl