This Arctic Fox is So Fast It Can Catch Birds

Continue reading for our analysis...

The need for survival is a powerful motivator for any animal in the wild. Animals don’t get a day off from needing to survive. They can’t hide out on their couch eating potato chips and watching reruns of Friends. Their daily survival means they must defend their territory, look for new coverage for their resting place, and hunt for food. Let’s not miss the action in the video above for how this Arctic fox survives by being so fast it can catch birds. 

Arctic Fox Hunting

The short YouTube video clip at the beginning of this article shares the footage of an arctic fox hunting on the mountainside. The Jungle Journey YouTube page shared this wild video with over 176,000 subscribers on their channel. We regularly see footage of wild animals such as antelope, cheetahs, polar bears, and apes. 

Arctic Fox Takes a Giant Leap

As the video begins, we see a vast plain of rocks and ice that make up the Arctic, which is located in the northernmost section of Earth. This adorable Arctic fox is out hunting for his next meal. And he knows where to look in the crevices of the rocks surrounding him.

However, today, he will not have to dig for his food. Flying overhead are millions of auks (Pinguinus impennis) swooping in as it is summertime and they are migrating. And this little fox is determined to make one of those his next meal. The narrator shares that these aux know dangers lurk, so they must place their nests deep between the rocks. 

With great precision, the Arctic fox leaps into the air and grabs one of the birds that is flying away from its underground nest. The Colorado State University News adds that the Arctic fox “ will jump straight up in the air, sometimes several feet.” As the video continues, we see this fox able to snatch quite a few of these birds. 

What Do Arctic Foxes Eat?

The Canidae family’s Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is part of a family group that will break up during September and October.  From there, they will live a solitary life, and they will learn to hunt on their own.

The Center for Biological Diversity states that Arctic foxes are opportunistic feeders that will eat either alive or dead animals. These foxes are often inappropriately labeled as carnivore eaters on many websites. And yes they will indeed hunt for meat. They will prey on lemmings, voles, hares, and small rodents. However, they are more rightly labeled as omnivores because they will also eat things such as berries and eggs within their diet.

Regardless, these animals are tremendous hunters who know how to get what they are after. No matter if they live on the ground or up in the air!