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Fanta stic Arctic foxes and where to find them
A young Arctic fox cub enjoys the sunshine in the Icelandic countryside.
Get a close encounter with Iceland’s furry-faced natives. TEXT: Lisa Gail Shannen PHOTO: Roman Gerasymenko
Cute, fluffy and ever so curious, the amazing Arctic fox is the only mammal truly native to Iceland – it’s been roaming the vast expanses of the country since the Ice Age. There are many extraordinary things about these clever little creatures, including their bushy tails, furry paws, and incredible sense of smell. But perhaps most remarkable is their dense and downy fur, which provides excellent insulation and helps them survive the cold, harsh Icelandic winters. Masters of camouflage, their coats can also change colour with the seasons, from brown and blue-grey to snowy white, which helps them to blend in perfectly with nature. Although they are very good at hiding and mostly make their homes in remote locations, there are a few special places in Iceland where you can get a magical close encounter.
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Reykjavik Park and Zoo in Laugardal ur valley is a great place to visit with the family. It has two friendly resident Arctic foxes who are often seen curled up snoozing in the grass or playing in their pen. You can also meet Iceland’s furry-faced natives at the Arctic Fox Centre in Sudavik in the Westfjords, close to Isafjordur, which is not only a shelter for injured and orphaned foxes, but also a research centre with a fabulous exhibition. In the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the Westfjords, which can be reached by boat from Isafjordur, you can observe Arctic foxes in the wild. Because they’ve been a protected species since 1993, they’re quite friendly and not so fearful of humans.
GETTING THERE:
Isafjordur
Hornstrandir Sudavik Sudavik
Reykjavik
Air Iceland Connect flies from Reykjavik to Isafjordur daily in only 40 minutes. From there it takes approximately 20 minutes to drive to Sudavik. (Borea borea.is) and West Tours (westtours.is) offer expeditions to Hornstrandir from Isafjorður on the trail of the Arctic fox in the summer. → airicelandconnect.com → westfjords.is
