Arctic fox is a small fox that lives on the treeless coastal areas and islands of the Arctic Ocean. It grows about 20 inches (50 centimeters) long, not including its tail, and weighs from 2 to 20 pounds (1 to 9 kilograms).
Arctic foxes have long, thick winter fur to protect them from the extreme cold. Their relatively small ears also keep them from losing too much body heat. Most Arctic foxes change color from brown or gray in summer to white in winter. This color change camouflages the foxes in every season, enabling them to sneak up on prey. One kind of Arctic fox has a light gray or blue winter coat.
Arctic foxes feed mainly on birds, birds’ eggs, and such small mammals as lemmings. When food becomes scarce in winter, the foxes often travel great distances to find animal remains left behind by polar bears or wolves. Arctic foxes usually mate for life. During the female’s pregnancy, the breeding pair return to their family den, where many generations of foxes have lived before. Females usually give birth to 5 to 10 young each summer. 
