AS I write, I’m at a mining camp on the edge of Hudson Bay, in the far north of Quebec, in Canada. We are about 350 miles from the Arctic Circle. It’s quite warm, about zero degrees centigrade. There should be snow here but it’s still much too warm.
The landscape is pretty bleak, low hills and just tundra, we are well north of the tree line. There are a myriad of lakes and ponds, reflecting the relatively recent glacial period.
As we toured around, I was pleased to see a few Canada geese (I thought they’d all moved to England) and some snow geese, which were new to me.
What we did see were at least 10 Arctic foxes, which are immensely fluffy and perfectly white. This is currently a big disadvantage to them as without snow they stick out like a sore thumb and catching lemmings, their favourite nosh, is pretty hard. It’s like they are trying to sneak up on them banging a drum.
The Arctic fox is a beautiful creature and apparently quite tame, but they carry rabies so must be avoided. They are thought to have originated in Tibet and migrated in the late-Pliocene period, about three million years ago.
The Pliocene is one of the geological periods – which scientists like to give funny names to, to make them seem important. But Pliocene just means “more recent”.
At that point, the world was several degrees warmer than it is now and sea levels were, therefore, considerably higher.
Now the Arctic foxes are common in most of the land in or close to the Arctic Circle. They are lovely.
My only regret was I didn’t see snowy owls, which are apparently present in the area – hopefully I will on the next trip.
However, it was very noticeable how most birds and animals have gone off to warmer climes for the winter, and who can blame them?
For now, however, it’s time to start thinking about the journey home tomorrow – back to tropical Cornwall!
• Fred Knobbit is a nature blogger. He grew up in the Pennines in Lancashire on the edge of an industrial town but is now safely in Cornwall. You can read his archive at www.bodminblogger.com