Mark Williams's Image

Mark Williams (UK/Canada) spots an Arctic fox in the distance, moving across the tundra.

A glimpse of movement across the treeless tundra caught Mark’s eye. Through binoculars he spotted an Arctic fox in its ragged summer coat, backlit by the low, midnight Sun. Despite missing half a hind leg, it appeared to be doing well.

In the Canadian Arctic, the summer of continuous daylight was nearly over and in a few months darkness would prevail and temperatures would plummet to -40˚C. Arctic foxes don’t hibernate, but instead grow thick, white winter coats that camouflage well with the snow.

Now, however, due to climate change, the first snowfall of the season might start to arrive later, leaving the foxes conspicuous in white against the muted browns and greens of a snow-free tundra.