Arctic Fox Stores Eggs for Lean Times

Scientists have determined that the arctic fox stores stolen eggs in the food caches. These eggs can be stored for up to 1 year and they are what the foxes have on hand in case they can't find their preferred prey which is the collard lemming. The temperature of the permafrost combined with the natural preservatives in the egg are what keeps the eggs in an edible state for up to a year.

The arctic fox is not the only mammal to cache food, but it is unique in the fact that its stored food lasts so long. Most other animals eat their cached food in a few days. Scientists observed that there are natural fluctuations in the collard lemming population. When the collard lemming is plentiful, the cached eggs make up about 24% of the arctic foxes diet. If the collard lemming is scarce, then the cached eggs make up 78% of the arctic foxes diet.

For more information, read the rest of the National Geographic article!