Are Norwegian lemmings Lemmus lemmus avoided by arctic Alopex lagopus or red foxes Vulpes vulpes? A feeding experiment

Arctic fox Alopex lagopus and red fox Vulpes vulpes are close relatives wit h similar niche demands in the Holarctic. Where they are sympatric, they co mpete for territories, dens and food. Seat analyses from Fennoscandia have shown different proportions of lemmings and voles in the diets of the two f ox species suggesting food partitioning. However, it was not clear if this was due to different food preferences or distinct habitat use. Since the ar ctic fox is an endangered species in Fennoscandia, it is important to know whether the superior, north spreading red fox can oust it from the tundra h abitat, or if food specialisation may prevent displacement. In a feeding ex periment at the Lycksele Zoo in northern Sweden, we compared the food prefe rences of two arctic and two red foxes. Our results show that the four indi viduals responded similarly to a variety of food items, and particularly th at the two species were not distinct in their food preferences concerning l emmings and voles. However, the foxes had considerable individual predilect ions. Therefore, in the wild, the unequal proportions of lemmings and voles found in seats may reflect different habitat use for hunting.