Arctic Fox Spotted Far South in Flekkefjord

A rare sighting of an Arctic fox has been reported near Ersdal on Sira in Flekkefjord, far south of its usual habitat. Preben Lohne, a local hunter, described the encounter as unexpected and thrilling. While out hunting on Saturday, he noticed something white moving in the distance and initially thought it might be a hare. He quickly put down his rifle and grabbed his phone just as the small, curious animal approached. Lohne told NRK this was his first time seeing an Arctic fox in the wild. He found it remarkable that the animal had traveled so far south, well beyond its known range. The southernmost established population of Arctic foxes in Norway is currently on Hardangervidda, more than 150 kilometers north of Sira. Jon Erling Skåtan of Statens naturoppsyn (SNO), Norway’s Directorate for Nature Management, confirmed the sighting is highly unusual for this region. Skåtan noted there have been recent reports of Arctic fox sightings in Hægebostad and nearby areas, possibly involving the same individual. He reminded hunters to exercise caution, as the Arctic fox is fully protected by law in Norway and classified as the country’s most endangered mammal. Shooting one is illegal. Since 2006, a national breeding program led by NINA and SNO under the Norwegian Environment Agency has released 522 Arctic foxes into the wild. Ten new litters were documented in northern Norway in 2025, suggesting the conservation effort may be gaining ground.