Talk:Arctic fox

Statement on life expectancy seems questionable

In the first paragraph it states "In the wild, most individuals do not live past their first year but some exceptional ones survive up to 11 years." The source doesn't seem to support that. In table 3 it shows that a large number of the examined foxes in the study were around 1 year old, however it's 11 out of 26 (42%). Also the study was done on a single Greenlandic island with a relatively small sample size and was more interested in feeding habits than determining age statistics. I think it's an over-generalization to take such a small sample size from a very specific area and apply it to the entire species. sam (talk) 22:33, 28 March 2023 (UTC)

That sentence also caught my attention. From a quick search, I found this page, which says:

Template:Quote

That makes sense to me, though I'm not sure that site qualifies as a reputable source. The page does cite some sources of its own, though, so someone might be able to use those as references for this article. Nyvhek (talk) 06:34, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

I went to the page Nyvhek linked to, then to the source that that page linked to, which is this: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260707097_Canids_Foxes_Wolves_Jackals_and_Dogs_Status_Survey_and_Conservation_Action_Plan

On page 122, under Longevity, the author states "The average lifespan for animals that reach adulthood is approximately three years. The oldest recorded individuals were 11 years of age (P. Hersteinsson unpubl.)." He's referencing his own study, which wasn't published at the time but now has been. I believe it's the same as the one referenced in the Wikipedia article. In my view, the sentence Sam quoted shouldn't include "exceptional" or "up to" due to the aforementioned small sample size. Some individuals are likely able to live longer than that, it's just they haven't been observed doing so yet. TheBlueFoxBoy (talk) 03:38, 18 May 2024 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Writing 2

— Assignment last updated by MikayelHun04 (talk) 20:00, 3 April 2023 (UTC)

Fennoscandia

Please add the link. Thanks. 99.228.43.228 (talk) 17:53, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Please use the Template:Tl template to request your change. - UtherSRG (talk) 18:14, 30 May 2023 (UTC)

Removing space

The current text is "Arctic foxes must endure a temperature difference of up to 90–100 °C (160–180 °F)". Is there a way to remove the space between the figures and the degree symbol? BrightOrion (talk) 23:46, 11 April 2024 (UTC)

Pretty sure that's an automatic function of the Template:Tl template being used. Just Step Sideways ^{from this world ..... today} 00:39, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

I always learned that there was no space, as per Chicago Style, for example. But I just found out there is a style to leave a space, and I'm guessing Wikipedia follows that style now. Thanks anyway. BrightOrion (talk) 00:50, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request

Template:Edit semi-protected In the intro, please add that it is the smallest canine species in Canada and that alongside the Arctic wolf, it is the northernmost canine species in the World. https://northwestwildlife.com/learn/species-reports/arctic-fox/ 2600:100C:A20D:B7A7:E0E7:13FC:82DC:FD2F (talk) 12:53, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done: References do not directly support the request. Also, request is not in the required "please change X to Y" format. UtherSRG (talk)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 April 2025

Template:Edit semi-protected Update on fennoscandian population estimates. ″The Fennoscandian population thus numbers around 140 breeding adults″ to ″An estimated 582 adults live in Fennoscandia in 2025.″ Marvelousmeredith (talk) 17:26, 19 April 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done I agree the change needs making but it's more than just the single sentence. Most of it needs rewritting:

"The other threatened population is the one in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Kola Peninsula). This population decreased drastically around the start of the 20th century as a result of extreme fur prices, which caused severe hunting also during population lows. The population has remained at a low density for more than 90 years, with additional reductions during the last decade. The total population estimate for 1997 is around 60 adults in Sweden, 11 adults in Finland, and 50 in Norway. From Kola, there are indications of a similar situation, suggesting a population of around 20 adults. The Fennoscandian population thus numbers around 140 breeding adults. Even after local lemming peaks, the Arctic fox population tends to collapse back to levels dangerously close to nonviability."

I'm suggesting:

"The Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Kola Peninsula) population has been threatened for many years and still remains critically low. This population decreased drastically around the start of the 20th century as a result of extreme fur prices, which caused severe hunting also during population lows. The population has remained at a low density for more than 90 years, with additional reductions during the last decade. Insert something about the estimates for Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Kola Peninsula. An estimated 582 adults live in Fennoscandia in 2025. However, even after local lemming peaks, the Arctic fox population tends to collapse back to levels dangerously close to nonviability."

Something like that. CambridgeBayWeather (solidly non-human), Uqaqtuq (talk), Huliva 20:39, 20 April 2025 (UTC)

Template:Reflist-talk CambridgeBayWeather (solidly non-human), Uqaqtuq (talk), Huliva 20:39, 20 April 2025 (UTC)