Interspecific Killing of an Arctic Fox by a Red Fox at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Abstract

We report on the interspecific killing of an arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) by a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield, Alaska, an event that was captured on video in November 2004. Both the video and evidence from observation indicate that this may be a case of intraguild predation. The interaction represents an extreme example of competitive behavior and suggests that increased contact between these two sympatric canids in northern Alaska could be detrimental to arctic foxes.