This book combines detailed, fascinating information about the animal with stunning photography. Here are some of the facts I've learned from this book that I've found the most interesting:

* Arctic foxes’ resilience to cold is unparalleled in the animal world, leaving even polar bears way in the dust (despite size disadvantage);
* Their dens are so well constructed that they can last for over 3 centuries (yes, centuries);
* A mature den can occupy an area the size of a football field and have over a 100 entrances;
* In various places where arctic foxes no longer exist, their dens still survive, even though they were last occupied and maintained in the 19th century;
* Arctic foxes roam enormous distances – explorers have reported seeing them near the North Pole, and foxes radio-collared in Scandinavia and Russia later turned up in Alaska!

Still, this is a book for someone with more than a passing interest in animals. However, for someone who’s interested in wildlife I couldn’t recommend it highly enough (although I must admit that I haven’t read its last 4 chapters devoted to arctic foxes’ relationship with humans – I don’t have the stomach to read of our species’ relationship with any other). ( )