Arctic foxes successfully breed in Finland after decades
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Metsähallitus, Finland’s Parks & Wildlife Finland, reported four arctic fox litters in the Enontekiö region this summer, with a minimum of 11 cubs observed.
The arctic fox has returned to its traditional breeding grounds in the Enontekiö fells over the last four years, successfully breeding annually since 2022, a significant change after a gap of over 25 years. An additional arctic fox pair established a den in the Utsjoki fells, though they did not produce cubs this year.
Increased populations of voles and lemmings, the arctic fox’s primary food source, in the northern fells, particularly in the Käsivarsi area, contributed to the breeding success and likely improved the cubs’ chances of survival. This positive trend extends to Norway and Sweden’s fell areas.
The return of the arctic fox as a breeding species in Finland is the result of long-term, collaborative conservation work between Finland, Sweden, and Norway, including a breeding program based in Oppdal, Norway, that releases captive-bred foxes into the wild. Current funding for this work comes from the EU’s Interreg Aurora program, through the Felles fjellrev project, which will continue to October 2026.
