Garry Hamilton

This book combines detailed, fascinating information about the animal with stunning photography. Here are some of the facts I've learned from this book that I've found the most interesting:

* Arctic foxes’ resilience to cold is unparalleled in the animal world, leaving even polar bears way in the dust (despite size disadvantage);
* Their dens are so well constructed that they can last for over 3 centuries (yes, centuries);
* A mature den can occupy an area the size of a football field and have over a 100 entrances;
* In various places where arctic foxes no longer exist, their dens still survive, even though they were last occupied and maintained in the 19th century;
* Arctic foxes roam enormous distances – explorers have reported seeing them near the North Pole, and foxes radio-collared in Scandinavia and Russia later turned up in Alaska!

Still, this is a book for someone with more than a passing interest in animals. However, for someone who’s interested in wildlife I couldn’t recommend it highly enough (although I must admit that I haven’t read its last 4 chapters devoted to arctic foxes’ relationship with humans – I don’t have the stomach to read of our species’ relationship with any other).… (mehr)