148 
region of the back of the neck and, less fre- 
quently, the tail and legs. 
The data are too meager to identify well- 
defined patterns in pup activity. However, it 
appeared that early morning, early afternoon, 
and evening were relatively quiet, while late 
morning and late afternoon were active periods. 
Activity seemed to be inhibited by inclement 
weather and mcsquitoes. 
Prey species utilization. |n marked contrast 
to similar data collected from den sites in other 
areas of the North Slope in past years, where as 
many as 30 lemming carcasses have been found 
associated with a single den, the amount of prey 
sign found associated with the Prudhoe Bay dens 
in 1971-72 was disappointingly sparse. This was 
probably a result of the relatively low popula- 
tion level of lemmings in these years. Prey signs 
consisted primarily of bits of lemming fur, par- 
tially eaten lemming carcasses, isolated feathers, 
and eggshells. 
The most significant observations occurred 
on 22 July 1971 at den site DH2, when one 
whole and from one to three broken swan eggs 
were found which had been brought to the den 
the previous night. All signs of the eggs had 
disappeared 24 hours after their discovery. A 
large wing, probably of swan and partially desic- 
cated (i.e., not freshly killed), was brought to 
the den, and the pups fed on it. Food items that 
could positively be identified were lemming, 
fledgling snow buntings, fledgling shore birds 
and swans. Several old caribou bones and antlers 
were associated with the dens, and were occa- 
sionally gnawed on by the pups, but were 
doubtless of small nutritional value. 
The age of fecal pellets of arctic fox can be 
determined by noting color. Fresh scat is usually 
shiny, black, and moist. Within 24 hours of 
production, barring rain or heavy fog, the pellets 
tend to dry out, but retain their color. After 
about 6 weeks, the pellets begin to show signs of 
greying, and become dark grey after about 3 
months. Pellets that have over-wintered are gen- 
erally white or light grey. Thus, it is possible to 
distinguish scat of the year from scat of previous 
years. 
Table 2 shows an analysis of prey content 
from scat of the year collected in 1971 at active 
dens in the Deadhorse area, and scat of the year 
Table 2 
Contents of fresh fecal pellets 
Prey Deadhorse area Point McIntyre 
sign (n=50) (n=24) 
Small mammal 86% 75% 
Caribou 2 0 
Ground squirrel 12 4 
Birds 56 63 
Insects 8 8 
Plants 46 42 
Nondigestible 
material 14 0 
found at random in the Point McIntyre area, 
where no pups or adults were observed. 
Small mammal sign (either of the two lem- 
ming species), consisting of fur, long bones, skull 
parts, teeth, and whole paws, in that order of 
occurrence, were found in four out of five 
pellets. The differences between Deadhorse and 
Point McIntyre were probably not significant. 
Ground squirrel sign was relatively low. Both 
Deadhorse and Point McIntyre are approximate- 
ly equidistant from the nearest known ground 
squirrel colony. 
The occurrence of one sample of caribou 
hair may indicate some summer scavenging but, 
with caribou actively molting in the area during 
the summer, it seems likely that caribou hair 
could be ingested accidentally. Stephenson 
(1970) reports that arctic foxes did not take 
scavenge on St. Lawrence Island during the sum- 
mer, when both live prey and carcasses were 
available. 
The second most common occurrence in the 
pellets was bird sign found in more than half of 
the pellets. Signs consisted of mature feathers, in 
parts or whole, pinfeathers, eggshells, egg 
membranes, and hollow bones. No attempt has 
been made to identify the species of birds. 
The six samples of insects consisted of two 
partially digested bumblebees (Bombas), one set 
of cranefly (Tipulidae) wings, and three un- 
identifiable insect carapaces. 
Plant remains usually consisted of isolated 
plant fibers, but included a large number of 
Salix rotundifolia \eaves which, although com- 
mon in the area, are not as common as their 
occurrence in the pellets suggests. 
