Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) diet in Karupelv valley, East Greenland, during a summer with low lemming density

We investigated the diet of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in the Karupelv v alley, East Greenland, during the summer of 1997. Despite a low density, le mmings were the most utilized prey, comprising 65.3% of dry fecal weight in fresh feces. This demonstrates the importance of lemming species as prey f or arctic foxes all through a lemming cycle. Birds, arctic hare (Lepus arct icus), and insects also contributed to the diet. Arctic fox remains suggest ed that the foxes had scavenged their own species. Vegetation, muskoxen (Ov ibos moschatus), and seal (Phocidae) were found in small amounts. We compar ed estimates of prey availability and diets of arctic foxes for a coastal a rea (<10 km from the shore) and an inland area (>10 km from the shore). Abu ndance of avian prey tended to be higher in the coastal area. Fresh feces i ndicated a significant overall difference in arctic fox diets between th: c oastal and inland areas. Within prey categories, lemmings were significantl y more represented in the inland area, while the coastal area had a more di verse diet overall. We also suggest that the existence of arctic foxes in E ast Greenland is dependent on regular peak years in lemming density.