Norwegian Environment Agency | Telephone: +47 73 58 05 00 | E-mail: post@miljodir.no | Internet: www.environmentagency.no | Postal address: Postboks 5672 Sluppen, No-7485 Trondheim

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Arctic foxes must not be disturbed The arctic fox was designated a priority species in January 2015 and a new regula-

tion came into place simultaneously. In accordance with section 3 of the regulation,

any actions that may affect and interfere with arctic foxes are strictly prohibited.

The arctic fox is one of the most threatened

mammals and directly endangered in Norway. A

number of management measures have enabled

the population of foxes to increase, so you can

now expect to encounter them in several moun-

tain areas in Norway.

The foxes are disturbed when humans come too

close. Therefore, providing information about

situations and actions that may count as disturb-

ance is an important preventative measure.

Disturbance is prohibited

The arctic fox regulation clearly prohibits dis-

turbance of arctic fox individuals. Therefore, you

must pay attention to how your activity in arctic

fox areas affects individual foxes.

In connection with the Arctic fox becoming a pri-

ority species, The Norwegian Environment Agen-

cy commissioned the Norwegian Institute for Na-

ture Research (NINA) to compile the available

information about disturbance of and the effects

of disturbance on arctic foxes.

The Arctic fox has priority species status and disturbance of this threatened species is prohibited. Photo: Kim Abel, Naturarkivet.

FACT SHEET

M-460 | 2015

FACTS

The arctic fox regulation

The arctic fox was designated a priority

species on 23 January via the «Regulation on

the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) as a priority

species». The regulation was established by

Royal Decree pursuant to the Act of 19 June

2009 no. 100 on the management of biodiver-

sity (Biodiversity Act) § 23, § 24 and § 62.

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FACT SHEET M-460 | 2015

The most obvious sign that arctic foxes have

been disturbed is that they flee or give warning

vocalisations.

Another sign may be that the foxes cease their

present activity, such as eating or playing, and

instead spend more time sitting inactive and/or

observing more (are more vigilant).

Disturbance may also cause the arctic foxes to

change their activity pattern to become more

active during times when people are less active,

or they may move fox kits to another den.

Avoid continual presence

Although as many people as possible should have

the opportunity to experience this remarkable

animal, arctic foxes must also be able to retain

their natural behaviours. Persistent human pres-

ence over longer periods of time can make arc-

tic foxes more habituated to humans.

You should therefore avoid activities such as

feeding arctic foxes to lure them closer to you,

for example for the purposes of observation or

photography. You should also avoid regularly

visiting den locations and neighbouring areas.

FACTS

How to avoid disturbing arctic foxes

Avoid den areas, especially between

mid-May and mid-July when fox kits

are particularly vulnerable.

People on foot should keep a mini-

mum distance from dens of at least

300 metres – this minimum distance

should be increased in open and flat

terrain.

The minimum distance should be in-

creased if there are more people tra-

velling together in a group.

Pay attention to any changes in the

foxes’ behaviour.

If foxes cease their ongoing activity

and notably become more vigilant or

give warning vocalisations, these are

all signs that they have been distur-

bed.

To flee is a last resort for foxes, who

may have been disturbed long before

they flee.

If you unexpectedly enter a denning

area with fox kits present, you should

retreat the same way you came.

If you are in a group, the entire group

should retreat as a unit.

Photo: Bård Bredesen, Naturarkivet.

LINKS

www.environmentagency.no

Website of the Norwegian Environment

Agency

www.environment.no

State of the Environment Norway provides

the latest information about the state and

development of the environment in Norway