Arctic Fox Centre
A research centre for the only land mammal that was in Iceland before people arrived.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
The arctic fox is the only land mammal that reached Iceland without human help, walking in over sea ice at the end of the last glaciation, and it has been here ever since - hunted for centuries under a bounty system, and still hunted outside the Hornstrandir reserve. The centre at Sudavik is both an exhibition and a working research base: it runs monitoring of the population, collects data from hunters and researchers, and hosts volunteers doing fieldwork in Hornstrandir. The exhibition covers the biology, the two colour morphs, the hunting history and the debate about management. Orphaned cubs have been kept on site in some years.
What you actually see
- Iceland's only native land mammal - arrived over sea ice, before people.
- A working research base - monitoring, data collection and fieldwork.
- Hunting history and current debate - bounties then, management now.
- The two colour morphs - white and blue, explained.
When to go
May to September for full hours and fieldwork season. Two hours.
Honest expectations
Whether live foxes are on site varies year to year and cannot be counted on. The exhibition is small. Hours are reduced in winter. Seeing wild foxes means Hornstrandir, which is a separate expedition.
Nearby
Isafjordur is west; Hornstrandir is reached by boat from there.
What to pack for Arctic Fox Centre
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.