Hi Earth Rangers! It’s Emmanuelle again, back with an exciting update from the High Arctic. After three summers of fieldwork in Alert, Nunavut, just 817 kilometres (508 miles) from the North Pole, I’m beginning to understand how climate change is shaping the lives of Snow Buntings and the Arctic foxes that depend on them.
Snow Buntings might be small, but they’re an important part of the Arctic fox’s summer menu. When Snow Buntings are doing well, foxes have more food to hunt! This summer, I learned that warmer days are changing how Snow Buntings behave. Their thick white feathers are perfect for cold Arctic weather and work just like a winter jacket. But when it gets warm, they can’t take it off, so adult Snow Buntings slow down and move around less to avoid overheating.
Why does this matter? When Snow Buntings slow down, they don’t bring as much food to their chicks. That can mean fewer young birds growing up on the tundra — and less food for Arctic foxes.
I also discovered something really interesting: male and female buntings react to warm weather differently. Females feed the chicks more and get warmer, while males stay cooler but help less. This could change how snow bunting families survive as the Arctic gets warmer.
Life in the High Arctic is full of surprises! Each day starts with wildlife patrols, where I record every animal I see as I travel across the tundra by ATV or snowmobile, searching for snow bunting nests. Along the way, I often see Arctic hares, Peary Caribou, and sometimes even an Arctic fox darting across the landscape.
Check out some photos I took along the way:
Seeing an Arctic fox always reminds me why this update matters. Arctic foxes rely on snow buntings as part of their summer food supply. When Snow Buntings struggle, foxes can feel the effects too. The information we’re collecting is already being used in long-term monitoring programs and is helping scientists make plans to protect Canada’s polar deserts.
These new discoveries are helping us understand how a warming Arctic affects even the smallest animals — and how those changes can ripple through the entire ecosystem. I can’t wait to share more as we continue learning how to protect the Arctic, one feather (or paw!) at a time.
Want to make a difference for Arctic foxes? Head to the Adoptions section in the App or visit the Earth Rangers EStore to get your own Arctic fox Adoption Kit and help support conservation efforts for these awesome animals!
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I think you’re doing a good job doing what you do
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Cool!