EFFECTS OF A VAGRANT ARCTIC FOX ALOPEX LAGOPUS ON AN ISOLATED NEWFOUNDLAND SEABIRD COMMUNITY

We report predation by an Arctic Fox Alopex lagopus on two seabird species, Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica and Leach's Storm Petrels Hydrobates leucorhous, nesting on Bakeapple Island, Little Fogo Islands, Newfoundland, Canada. This event took place in 2022, when a whole-island inspection revealed that fox, facilitated by over-ice invasion, killed at least 139 adult storm petrels and 8 puffin chicks. The fox also dug out 83 storm petrel and 4 puffin burrows. Breeding by seabirds on the island, which harbours some of the northernmost colonies in Newfoundland, was also largely disrupted; we documented extremely low egg and chick production values associated with the fox's presence and activity. We discuss the implications of such events for local seabird populations and the need for long-term monitoring to fully understand the impact of these predation events.