Body sizes, ages, reproductive status, and sex ratios of Arctic Foxes, Alopex lagopus, in the Prudhoe Bay oil field, Alaska

Because of public safety concerns about possible rabies transmission by the increased Arctic fox population in the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field, the fox population was reduced in 1994. Of the 99 foxes killed during January February 1994, 59% were males. The large proportion (89%) of juveniles in the sample could have indicated low numbers of older animals in the population due to low juvenile survival, but may also have resulted from a capture bias toward juveniles. Male foxes were heavier and longer than females. Only two of 41 females were sexually mature.