Food habits and observations of the hunting behaviour of Arctic Foxes, Alopex lagopus, in Svalbard

Food habits of Arctic Foxes in Svalbard were determined by examining 898 stomachs from trapped foxes, by recording prey remains outside dens and by observing feeding and hunting behaviour in the field. Sixty percent of the stomachs contained food. Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus ) was the most frequently encountered food item (41%) followed by Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus ) (30%) and sea birds/fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis ) (35%). Several other food items were found in the stomachs, supporting the general perception of the Arctic Fox as an opportunistic feeder and scavenger. The weights of different food items in stomachs generally reflected their frequency of occurrence. There were no differences in food habits between sexes, between juveniles and adults, or between seasons. Arctic Foxes in Svalbard are both skilled predators and scavengers, and they are typical opportunistic and generalistic feeders. Fluctuations in the mortality of Reindeer and in the density of ptarmigan may affect Arctic Fox numbers in Svalbard.