The Arborg Heritage Village will host Iceland’s leading Arctic fox researcher next month for a free public talk exploring the life and conservation of the country’s only native land mammal.
Dr. Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir, a wildlife ecologist at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History, will speak on Meet Melrakki: the Native Arctic Fox of Iceland on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. in Heritage Hall. Admission is free, but seating is limited and RSVPs are required at 204-671-0203.
Unnsteinsdóttir has spent decades studying the Arctic fox, known in Icelandic as melrakki, and leads the nation’s long-running monitoring program. She is also co-founder of the Arctic Fox Centre in Súðavík in the Westfjords, which serves as both a research hub and an educational facility.
Her work has focused on the ecology, population dynamics and behaviour of the fox, including the impact of growing tourism on den sites and the differences between Iceland’s “blue” and “white” colour morphs. The Arctic fox is believed to have been the first mammal to colonize Iceland after the last Ice Age and remains an iconic symbol of the country’s natural heritage.
“The Arctic fox has lived in Iceland for many thousands of years and became isolated when the icecap retreated after the last Ice Age,” Unnsteinsdóttir explained in an interview ahead of her visit. “Genetic studies show the Icelandic Arctic fox is less related to other populations than those populations are to one another. But it does not differ enough to be regarded as a subspecies.”
Unlike elsewhere in the Arctic, the absence of lemmings and cyclic rodents in Iceland means the foxes have adapted to a more stable food supply.
“The litter size in Iceland has been stable for at least 100 years,” she said. “That’s very different from populations that fluctuate with lemming cycles.”
When Unnsteinsdóttir began studying foxes in the late 1990s, she participated in surveys in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, where hunting had recently been banned. Before 1994, Icelandic law mandated extermination of the species.
“It was a general belief that protection would enhance population growth and that hunting was the only way to prevent it,” she recalled. “In contrast, the Hornstrandir population became stable after protection, while the hunted population continued increasing rapidly. It was a surprise, but it shows how nature can stabilize predator numbers through carrying capacity.”
Today Arctic foxes are found across Iceland, though they are less wary in protected areas such as Hornstrandir and Snæfellsnes National Park. Dens are legally protected, with restrictions on disturbance during the May–July breeding season.
“For anyone who wants to watch foxes and their cubs, we recommend staying at least 40 to 100 metres away and limiting visits to 20 minutes,” Unnsteinsdóttir said. “It’s also better to avoid dens at night and early morning.”
The world’s Artic fox population is white dominant but Icelandic foxes are the “blue” colour morph.
“The genetics are quite simple — blue is dominant over white,” Unnsteinsdóttir explained. “A blue pair can produce white cubs, but two white foxes will only produce white offspring. Each colour has its advantage. White is better camouflage in snowy highlands, while dark brown blends perfectly on coastal beaches. That’s why you see more blue foxes by the sea and more white ones inland.”
Fox diets shift with the seasons. In summer they feed on eggs and chicks, and in autumn, birds with the addition of berries, moth larvae and wood mice. In winter they rely on resident birds such as ptarmigan and eider, along with scavenging.
Research has shown two distinct ecotypes: coastal foxes that feed mainly on marine resources, and inland foxes that depend on ptarmigan and geese. Climate change has complicated these patterns.
“As seas have warmed, some seabird colonies have failed, which hurt coastal foxes, while inland foxes have benefited from more bird species staying year-round,” Unnsteinsdóttir said. “Extreme weather events are also affecting cub survival. Even so, Iceland’s foxes are not directly impacted by melting Arctic sea ice because the surrounding sea never freezes.”
Unnsteinsdóttir said her fascination with foxes grew from observing their family bonds and adaptability.
“They take such good care of their offspring and work hard to defend their territory. Sometimes a year-old daughter is allowed to stay as a helper. In two cases I saw that daughter later become the breeding female, with her mother staying as the helper. It shows how practical these foxes can be — and even kind to their parents, if you want to think so.”
Foxes have long been woven into Icelandic folklore as sly and clever, but Unnsteinsdóttir said those tales exaggerate their abilities.
“They’re not sly — they’re resilient. They’re strong little creatures that follow the rules of their society and survive in harsh conditions.”
Her mentor, the late Páll Hersteinsson, inspired her to co-found the Arctic Fox Centre.
“His idea was that Icelanders should have a visitor centre focused on our only native mammal. With Iceland hosting 90 per cent of Europe’s Arctic fox population, it’s a big responsibility to secure their future.”
Unnsteinsdóttir hopes more people will learn to see the fox as a valuable part of Iceland’s ecosystem.
“Predators are important. They regulate prey numbers, make space for other species and increase biodiversity. They also remove weak individuals, making prey populations stronger. Foxes are fewer in number than their prey and therefore more vulnerable to changes at lower levels of the food chain.”
She encouraged people interested in conservation to support research, including new efforts to fit foxes with satellite collars to track migration.
“Everyone can learn and help,” she said. “When locals see foxes as valuable, they’re more likely to live with them and support protecting them.”
The Arborg Heritage Village said hosting Unnsteinsdóttir offers a unique chance for Manitobans to connect with Iceland’s natural heritage.
“This presentation is a rare opportunity to learn from a leading researcher who has dedicated her life to studying this remarkable animal,” the museum said in a statement. “The Arctic fox is part of Iceland’s identity, just as heritage and community are part of ours.”
The event is sponsored by the Arborg Heritage Village.
