Arctic foxes face increasing competition from red foxes expanding northward as climate change warms the Arctic. Red foxes exclude arctic foxes from dens and prey territories, creating welfare pressures on an already climate-stressed species.
Arctic foxes displaced from traditional den sites by red foxes must establish in suboptimal locations with higher exposure to weather and predation. Competitive confrontations with larger red foxes cause injuries to arctic foxes. Climate-driven reduction of sea ice limits winter foraging on seal carcasses and seabird colonies that arctic foxes depend on. The species faces simultaneous welfare pressures from climate change, competition, and reduced prey availability.