The Arctic Fox In My Life
I
charge through the heavy snow, my white fur concealing me from predators and
shielding me from the bitter cold. The force of my run and the chill wind pins
down my small ears. My mind is at rest, focusing only on my pumping legs, but
always aware of the treacherous landscape before me. This winter in the tundra
has been exceptionally brutal, making food scarce. Hopeful, I return to my
usual haunts in search of food, recalling the different berries and plants I had
buried there when food was more plentiful. I use my fur encased paws, which
block the cold from encompassing me, to dig at the ground beneath me. I jump up
and down aggressively, plowing my front paws deep into the white snow. I find nothing.
Desperate for
sustenance, I venture further north, the stench of a polar bear not far away. I
wait patiently, taking refuge behind a bulky rock. As I squint into the
distance, I spy the large bear tearing at the flesh of an unlucky seal near the
ice. After eating most of the seal, the polar bear trudges along in the
opposite direction. I watch the massive bear leave its meal and decide to move
from my position behind the boulder and take my only chance for food. Stealthily,
I scamper in the direction of the seal. I carefully navigate the icy terrain
and finally make it to the carcass. Using my teeth in conjunction with my rapid
moving paws, I manage to drag the almost frozen meat to the surface. I clamp my
mouth hard around the scraps, doing my best to prevent it from slipping back
into the freezing earth. I cut at the leftover kill with my canines, swallowing
the protein heartily. I feel the meat hit my empty stomach, hunger pangs slowly
abating.
Suddenly, before I can
eat my fill, I hear several loud pops in the distance. My ears prick up at the
familiar sound. Fearful, I snag what food I can fit into my mouth and dart back
toward my den, hidden in the vast tundra. The aggressive pops continue, but
sound further away as I rush back to my family. I pounce inside one of our
hidden tunnels and continue my trek back home. Once approaching the den, I can
hear my clan. I push my way up through a small opening and after surveying the
surroundings, sprint toward another hidden opening closer to the edge of the
forest. I burrow inside the hole. My mate and under-nourished pups are huddled
together awaiting food. I push the limited seal meat close to them and watch as
they tear at the remaining meat.
The arctic fox,
or Alopex lagopus, possesses an overwhelming
number of traits that can both hinder and assist their species in being
dependable leaders. All species of fox are notorious for being nimble, cunning,
and sly, but I consider the arctic fox to be particularly adept. Through its unwavering
ability to adapt, the arctic fox has proven itself to be a great leader.
Despite the many challenges that the foxes face, whether it be the constant
threat of predators or the elements, the Arctic Fox has ultimately persevered.
To increase her
chances of survival, my spirit animal's fur changes colors depending on the
season. Her coat evolves from a burnt gray in the summer months to a brilliant
white in the winter. This change in color illustrates the arctic fox's ability
to adapt to different situations. As my spirit guide, an arctic fox supports me
in a variety of different situations, whether it be in my education, social and
professional engagements, or other life endeavors. Like her changing coat, my
spirit animal inspires me to stay flexible and be prepared to immerse myself in
new experiences or opportunities.
Due to the dangerous
habitat that my spirit animal lives in, she must constantly be in the moment.
If she is distracted, or ignores her basic instincts, she faces the risk of
losing her life. Although my spirit animal is strong and vigilant, she too has
many predators.
An interesting factor
that sets apart arctic foxes from other animals living in the piercing cold
tundra is that they do not hibernate during the winter. The arctic fox’s
compact size and thick fur serves as fantastic insulation, allowing the arctic
fox to conserve their heat, which makes living in such a cold environment
possible. The arctic fox is known for having the warmest coat of any mammal in
the world. However, the coat that makes this fox so impermeable to the cold and
allows for her to live in such freezing temperatures is also what makes her
species so desirable to hunters. While for hundreds of years many indigenous
people living in the tundra have relied on this fox and their coat to stay warm
in the treacherous winter months, over time there has been a dramatic increase
in the demand for the fur of arctic foxes for much more shallow and superficial
reasons. Thousands of arctic foxes are killed each year for their fur and
although the arctic fox in particular is not considered to be an endangered
species, the brutal slaughter of poor defenseless arctic foxes by armed human
beings disrupts the circle of life. To kill any animal in the name of fashion
is selfish and disrespectful, the freedom of majestic animals being carelessly
thrown away. Humans take these foxes captive and farm them for their fur. As a
result, fur trade has increased drastically in the areas that arctic foxes
inhabit and selling their pelts has become incredibly important to native
people's economy. This coat serves as a barrier to the blistering elements
common of the arctic fox's environment. Symbolically, I myself build figurative
walls to protect myself from outside pressures. While I'd like to think of
myself as having a thick skin, I've come to realize that I am much more
sensitive than I initially believed and by keeping parts of my life a secret
from the people I care about, I too am protecting myself from potential hurt. Some
Native American tribes share stories of men who discover their wives are
actually foxes, these tales symbolize the idea that "unless a male can
recognize the magic of the feminine-in himself or others-and learn to use it to
shape-shift his own life, it will ultimately lead to destruction.”[3] I believe that the
stressed importance of embracing femininity and sensitivity symbolic in foxes
emphasizes the significance of being honest with ones emotions and makes the
sensation of the calm before the storm possible.
Another species of
fox, the red fox, is expanding more and more every year into the habitats of
the arctic fox. This competition can prove fatal for the smaller arctic fox
because a red fox desperate for food will kill and eat an arctic fox if given
the chance. Also, with the decline of bears and wolves, arctic foxes are losing
a major source of food−the carcasses left behind by the larger predators. My
spirit animal is quick on her feet and elusive, making her difficult to catch.
One could learn from an arctic fox to always be prepared and to listen to their
instincts. The arctic fox uses it's plethora of impressive traits to survive
against all odds.
In addition to its
camouflaging coat, the arctic fox is also highly adaptive in a variety of other
ways. For example, the arctic fox will eat practically anything. They plan
ahead and save food for later, hiding unfinished meals very well around places
they frequent. An arctic fox's den usually has "4–250 entrances and a system of
tunnels covering about 30 square meters. Some dens have been used for centuries
by generations of foxes.”[4]
Both male and female arctic foxes share the duties
of collecting food for their young, but it is the male foxes duty to guard the
dens from other possible predators. Arctic foxes form lifetime monogamous bonds
with each other and their family units typically consist of an adult male, a
mother to the pups, another female who helps intermittently, and the offspring.
The importance of loyalty and a strong family dynamic is another trait that
factors into what makes the arctic fox such a wonderful leader.
I've learned from my
spirit animal that it is best to stay out of trouble. In the example of
the relationship between polar bears and arctic foxes, the arctic fox does not
endanger itself by taking down large prey, but waits for the polar bear to do
so, while still reaping the benefits. Like the arctic fox waiting for the polar
bear to make the kill, rather than meddle in other people's business, I should
stay on the sidelines. I interpret this lesson as a sign to steer clear from
involving myself in other people's arguments unless I feel threatened or
directly attacked. Though usually successful, this method can leave the arctic
fox dependent on other animals skills for food, preventing the fox from
reaching it's full leadership potential. Similarly, if I decide to keep to
myself, more often than not I will miss out on opportunities to lead.
I believe
full-heartedly that the arctic fox is unmistakably a leader; nevertheless
"no animal is better or worse than any other. Every animal's medicine is
unique," meaning that every person has the potential to be leader, but in
order to actualize this potential it is important to listen to one's spirit
animal and keep an open mind for one "will find [their] greatest success
in the animal that comes to [them]."[6]
Word count including quotes: 1601
Word count without quotes: 1526
[1] Rosling, Norbert.
"A White Arctic Fox Alopex Lagopus Jumps." fineartamerica.com.2011.
24 Feb. 2013 <http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/a-white-arctic-fox-alopex-lagopus-jumps-norbert-rosing.jpg>
[2] Morehouse, Keith.
"Alopex Lagopus Coiled Up in Snow." wildnernessclassroom.com.
2002. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/polarbear/images/800px-Alopex_lagopus_coiled_up_in_snow.jpg>
[3] Ted Andrews, Animal Speak: The
Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small (Woodbury, MN:
Llewellyn Publications, 1993), 272.
[4] Tannerfeldt, Magnus. "The
Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus" (On-line), Accessed February 24, 2013 at www.zoologi.su.se/research/alopex/the_arctic_fox.htm
[5] Edwards, Jim. jimedwardsphotography.com.
24 Feb. 2013
<http://www.jimedwardswildlifephotography.com/Polar_Bear_Notes_files/IMG_2305BearFox.jpg>
[6] Ted
Andrews, Animal Speak: The Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great
and Small (Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1993), 10.
[7] thatcutesite.com. 2010. 24 Feb.
2013 <http://www.thatcutesite.com/arctic-fox-does-a-divebomb.html>
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