As the interest for nature‐based tourism activities increases, it is important to provide evidence‐based guidelines for wildlife‐human interactions to minimize the disturbance caused to wildlife. In Fennoscandia, the endangered arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is subject to increasing tourism interest and some regions recommend a minimum approach distance of 300 m, but the guidelines have not been scientifically validated. We conducted experimental human approaches towards arctic fox den sites to study activity and behavioral changes in response to the approaching observer. The first arctic foxes hid when approached within 300 m, but many had increased their vigilance already at the start distance of 500 m. At approximately 200 m, the hiding probability increased rapidly at dens disturbed and undisturbed by tourism activities. Arctic foxes at disturbed dens allowed the observer to approach more closely before they increased their vigilance and before they hid compared to foxes at undisturbed dens. We confirm that a minimum distance of 300 m might be sufficient for most arctic foxes to refrain from hiding, but a longer distance would be required to avoid causing any disturbance. We recommend a minimum approach distance of ≥300 m to be implemented in all Fennoscandian regions inhabited by the arctic fox. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

中文翻译：

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北极狐对旅游活动的回应

随着人们对基于自然的旅游活动的兴趣增加，为野生动植物与人之间的互动提供循证指南至关重要，以最大程度地减少对野生动植物造成的干扰。在芬诺斯坎迪亚（Fennoscandia），濒临灭绝的北极狐（Vulpes lagopus）受到越来越多的旅游者的关注，一些地区建议最小进近距离为300 m，但该指南尚未经过科学验证。我们对北极狐的巢穴进行了实验性人类研究，以研究活动和行为变化以响应即将到来的观察者。最早的北极狐在接近300 m时就藏起来了，但是许多狐狸已经在500 m的开始距离提高了警惕。在大约200 m处，被旅游活动干扰和不受干扰的巢穴的隐藏概率迅速增加。与不受干扰的窝点的狐狸相比，在受干扰的窝点的北极狐狸使观察者在提高警惕之前和躲藏之前更加接近。我们确认最小距离300 m可能足以使大多数北极狐避免躲藏，但是将需要更长的距离以避免引起任何干扰。我们建议在北极狐所居住的所有芬诺斯堪的亚地区实现最小进近距离≥300m。©2020野生动物协会。