While arctic foxes thrive across much of the northern tundra, populations in Fennoscandia remain critically endangered.

Due to extensive hunting efforts in the early 20th century for their fur, populations dropped significantly. While now protected in all three countries, arctic foxes struggled to rebound, with numbers declining to about 100 individuals by the early 2000s.

The main threats to arctic foxes in Fennoscandia are habitat encroachment by the larger red fox (Vulpes vulpes) due to climate change. With various conservation actions, there has been some progress. Since 2001, the population has slowly recovered to around 450 adult individuals. Still, they remain critically endangered.