Listen to our favorite kid narrator, Pranamya, as she talks about the Arctic Fox.

Not all animals live in the warm climates. Some can survive and even thrive in the sub-zero temperatures.

Check out our frosty friend the Arctic Fox to find out how this species has adapted to the freezing cold.

Underground Homes

Also known as the polar fox, the Arctic Fox is found throughout the Arctic regions in the Northern Hemisphere. It can survive at temperatures as low as -58F. It does this by burrowing into the ground or snow. The underground burrows can have up to 100 entrances. These burrows are usually very old (hundreds of years) and are used by numerous generations of Arctic Foxes.

A Body Built for the Cold

The Arctic Fox has a very round body, short muzzle, and small ears, which helps to reduce its body surface area. This also reduces the amount of exposure to the extreme cold.

It also has an insulating layer of thick fur which traps a layer of air to preserve its body heat. This fox’s furry paws help him to walk easily on the snow and hunt for prey.

Arctic foxes also have white fur that helps them camouflage in the ice and snow. Their fur then changes to brown or gray in summer to help them blend in with their surroundings.

Keen Senses

This frosty friend has an excellent sense of smell and hearing. It uses its keen senses to hunt for food. The Arctic Fox can detect and catch its prey even when its underneath the snowy tundra.

The diet of the Arctic Fox is mostly lemmings but it will also dine on voles, sea birds and their eggs, seal pups and fish. Sometimes a really hungry Arctic Fox will also consume the leftovers from polar bears.

Mom & Dad Arctic Foxes

The Arctic Fox is a monogamous animal – this means it mates for life. The female Arctic Fox will carry her young for up to 57 days. Her babies are called, “whelps.” She can give birth to around 8 whelps in one season. Both the parents take care of the young.

What do you think of our frosty friend the Arctic Fox? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section.