Arctic fox numbers rise thanks to supplementary feeding

Feed dispensers placed by the Västerbotten County Administrative Board have helped arctic foxes in the Västerbotten mountains find food. The species was nearly extinct in the late 1990s, but conservation efforts have succeeded, with around 277 adults now in Sweden.

Arctic foxes in Västerbotten were nearly extinct by the late 1990s. The species remains threatened and red-listed with low numbers, but supplementary measures have produced results. According to ArtDatabanken, there are about 277 adult arctic foxes in Sweden, up from 165 five years ago.

Feed dispensers have been placed by the Västerbotten County Administrative Board in the Västerbotten mountains. They are designed so only arctic foxes can access the food – red foxes and wolverines are too large. The feeders assist particularly in years with shortages of voles and lemmings.

"Arctic foxes have increased, they find food even when voles are scarce," says Åsa Granberg of the Västerbotten County Administrative Board to SVT Västerbotten.

ተያያዥ ጽሁፎች

Realistic illustration depicting a wolf in Swedish wilderness with court backdrop and divided reactions to halted 2026 wolf hunt.
በ AI የተሰራ ምስል

Swedish court halts 2026 wolf hunt

በAI የተዘገበ በ AI የተሰራ ምስል

The Administrative Court in Luleå has halted all planned license hunting of wolves for 2026 in five counties. The decision was made because county boards failed to demonstrate that the hunt would not jeopardize the wolves' favorable conservation status. Reactions are divided, with environmental groups celebrating and hunters and farmers expressing frustration.

An unusually social fox has moved into a residential area in Heby and follows dogs and children in the sledding hill. Several residents have reported the intrusive fox, which behaves like a dog and is not easily scared off. The municipality's ecologist is monitoring the situation but plans no action against the healthy animal.

በAI የተዘገበ

Following the Sundsvall Administrative Court's March 17 decision to lift a temporary halt, the license hunt for lynx in Dalarna has resumed amid ongoing appeals. Hunters are permitted to shoot 20 lynx—nearly double last year's quota—while the Nature Protection Association, which appealed in 11 counties, criticizes the move.

On Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, gray wolves have begun hunting sea otters, a behavior that scientists are racing to understand. Led by University of Rhode Island Ph.D. candidate Patrick Bailey, the research explores how these predators capture marine prey and the broader ecological implications. This shift could link land and ocean food webs in unexpected ways.

በAI የተዘገበ

Hong Kong's Ocean Park has lost its last two arctic foxes, Siu Go and Trinity, to old age at 11 years. The theme park announced the deaths on Saturday, resulting in the temporary closure of the Arctic Fox Den. Staff and visitors will dearly miss these animal ambassadors, according to a park spokesman.

Lena Wåhlander in Källmyra near Östervåla looked out the window when her terrier growled and saw two wolves in the garden. Her partner counted four wolves from another window. The wolves were sniffing around 50 meters from the house.

በAI የተዘገበ

Elderly and social insurance minister Anna Tenje (M) has criticized Borås for cutting back on food for the elderly while investing in the zoo. Municipal council chairman Ulf Olsson rejects the accusations, emphasizing that no savings have been made on food quality. The debate arose in a radio broadcast about rising food prices in elderly care.

 

 

 

ይህ ድረ-ገጽ ኩኪዎችን ይጠቀማል

የእኛን ጣቢያ ለማሻሻል ለትንታኔ ኩኪዎችን እንጠቀማለን። የእኛን የሚስጥር ፖሊሲ አንብቡ የሚስጥር ፖሊሲ ለተጨማሪ መረጃ።
ውድቅ አድርግ