If you go on a trip to the Arctic Circle on an Arctic cruise, especially during the months of May to September, there is a high chance you may see a number of these animals.You can find a wide range of animals in Arctic waters, as well as Arctic wildlife, and due to living in such difficult conditions, Arctic animals have adapted to the harsh temperatures. Many animals have thick fur, wooly undercoats, and shaggy hair to trap body heat, keeping themselves warm.Unlike Antarctica where there is a large piece of land, the Arctic is not a landmass. It is made up of floating chunks of sea ice known as Arctic ice, as well as the lands of some countries. The countries which are considered a part of the Arctic include the United States, Canada, Greenland, Finland, Norway, Russia, Iceland, and Sweden. Due to the absence of any solid landmass at the North Pole, most Arctic animals are pretty good swimmers. You can get a glimpse of these Arctic animals in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska or in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska. There are also a couple of wildlife areas in Canada where you can see some of these Arctic animals. As an interesting fact about Arctic animals, you will see that most Arctic animals have white coats, and this white fur helps these animals to camouflage with the white ice and hide from their prey. Blubber is the fat layer that helps protect Arctic animals. Arctic tundra has animals such as voles, Arctic hares, caribou, squirrels, wolves, Arctic foxes, salmon, cod, flatfish, trout, mosquitoes, moths, flies, snow buntings, and ravens.If you enjoyed this article, why not learn about Antarctica and Arctic Ocean islands here on Kidadl?Wild Animals Of Greenland And CanadaMost Arctic animals play a vital role when it comes to keeping the Arctic ecosystems in balance such as krill in the marine ecosystem and seabirds in the overall ecosystem. Interestingly, there are some Arctic animals which even survived the Ice Age such as the musk ox which is believed to be one of the most ancient animals to exist far north. Canada and Greenland, mainly east Greenland is home to a large number of Arctic animals.Talking about wild animals that live in the Arctic region, the first one that should be mentioned is ’the King of the Arctic’, the polar bear. The polar bear is arguably the most powerful carnivore to live in the North Pole. Like most Arctic animals, the polar bear has a lot of body features which has helped it to survive these harsh Arctic conditions. The polar bear has developed a great sense of smell living in the Arctic as this animal roams around on sheets of ice throughout the day in search of food. Although like many other Arctic animals, the polar bear is suffering from the wrath of climate change.The walrus, a giant Arctic animal, is another majestic creature found in the Arctic region. This animal is especially known for its long tusks and the adaptations it has gone under to survive these conditions. This animal can live in the Arctic Ocean for many hours by slowing its heart rate and redirecting the blood flow away from some organs. The Arctic fox is another integral part of the North Atlantic region, and it is perhaps the bravest Arctic animal surviving such conditions with a body size of just 18 in (46 cm). The Arctic fox is a similar size to a large cat. Arctic foxes are some of the friendliest animals that live far north and are often spotted on sea ice. However, it is not wise to touch or feed this animal. The thick fur, the long tail, and the furry paws of an Arctic fox help this animal to survive in such conditions.The ‘canaries of the sea’ or beluga whales are some of the most beautiful creatures to be found in Arctic waters. Beluga whales are exclusively known for their unique body features as they have melon-shaped heads and always have a smile on their faces. Famous for its chirps, squeaks, and whistles, there are is a high chance you will come across a beluga whale if you go on a cruise towards the icy waters of the north. Additionally, the beluga whale is believed to be the closest relative of the narwhal. If you find the beluga whale fascinating, then you will also like the bowhead whale. Bowhead whales are one of the top five largest whales in the world. A bowhead whale can grow up to 60 ft (18 m) and live for around 200 years in the Arctic Ocean. Moreover, even though a bowhead whale weighs around 99 tons (90,000 kg), it can entirely leap out of the Arctic Ocean, what a majestic sight!The Official National Animal Of The ArcticThe polar bear is the most fearsome carnivorous animal in the Arctic. It is also known as the national animal of the Arctic. Its crown is indeed undisputed, even though it stays aloof from most of the world. It is the largest carnivore in the world and also the largest of all bear species by a considerable margin. Scientists consider polar bears to be marine mammals as they are also found on sea ice and can swim for long distances.Male polar bears weigh anywhere from 550-1700 lb (249.5-771 kg), whereas females on the other hand weigh around half of that on average, at around 330-650 lb (149.6-294.8 kg). Polar bears usually feed on bearded seals and living in the Arctic, they have developed a strong sense of smell. Polar bears can smell their prey from as far as 1 mi (1.6 km) and can even swim behind it if needed. The ability of polar bears to swim for long distances is why they are considered marine mammals by scientists. The front paws of a polar bear act like paddles and help it to swim, whereas its hind feet help it to steer and move. It was once recorded that polar bears swam for around 220 mi (354 km), speaking volumes about the swimming capability of the Arctic’s national animal. We see white-colored fur on polar bears but in reality, they have black skin. The black-colored skin underneath the fur helps it to soak the warmth of the sunlight better.Arctic Ocean AnimalsIrrespective of the fact that the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of all the oceans in the world, it is home to some of the most Endangered animal species on this planet. The Arctic Ocean is covered with sea ice for long periods even during the summer and entirely covered with sea ice during the winter months. Some of the seas that are part of the Arctic Ocean include the likes of the Kara Sea, Barents Sea, Laptev Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Greenland Sea.A wide range of marine mammals, fishes, and birds can be found in the Arctic Ocean. The ringed seal is a unique animal found in the Arctic Ocean. These seals can usually be seen on sea ice as they live on large chunks of sea ice and also give birth on it. The ringed seal can largely be found in the Chukchi Sea near the coast of Alaska. These seals are essential to the the native people of the Arctic. The ringed seal is also the smallest of all seals in the Arctic and the primary source of food for the polar bear. The harp seal is another member of the seal family found in these northern regions, like many other true members of the seal family, the harp seal does not have external ears. Harp seals are especially famous for their flexible bodies as they can even fold the upper half of their bodies completely backwards.Also known as ’the Methuselah of Sharks’, the Greenland shark is a unique marine animal living in the Arctic Ocean. This shark is famous for its ridiculously long life, scientists say that it can live up to half a millennia and is ready to reproduce only when it is 150 years old! Among all the animals in the Arctic Ocean, the apex predator of this water body is the killer whale or the orca. As a fact, they are the most widely spread mammal species after human beings!There is also a wide range of sea birds that live in the Arctic region including the Arctic tern, the fulmar, the Arctic skua, and the bald eagle. Many people are not often convinced if birds like the bald eagle and Arctic tern are indeed Arctic animals but studies have shown that the Arctic tern, as well as the bald eagle, belong to the Arctic. Apart from sea birds, there are also different kinds of fishes that can be found in the Arctic Ocean such as the Arctic char, haddock, pink salmon, and the unique viviparous eelpout. Arctic cod is another fish found in the Arctic but particularly in the Barents Sea.The Most Dangerous Animals Living In The Arctic TodayThe Arctic is not an easy place to be as it is filled with animals that have not only adapted to survive in these conditions but have become increasingly dangerous predators with their natural changes. For instance, an animal like a polar bear even though is quite huge, is at times invisible as a polar bear can camouflage itself with the white ice due to its white-colored body fur. Let us look at some of the most dangerous animals that currently live in the Arctic region. All these animals might not attack humans every time but they still are dangerous for other animals living in the region.First up on the list is the polar bear, one of the deadliest carnivores on the planet at the moment. Records have shown that polar bears have attacked humans on 73 occasions between 1870-2014 and it has sadly led to the death of 20 people in these incidents. People often believe that it is wise to stay in a group when there is a possibility of a polar bear being nearby. Although it is wise, it does not solve the problem entirely. Polar bears are capable of taking down humans even when they are in groups of three or four, due to might of this animal. Another kind of bear that is quite feared in the Arctic is the grizzly bear. This brown-colored bear is found in Alaska and has been the cause behind quite a few fatal attacks on human beings in the 21st century. Although the frequency of attacks is pretty low, the grizzly bear is adept at attacking a human being on its own.A wolverine, a crossover between a weasel and a bear, is another dangerous predator living in the Arctic even though there have not been any instances of a wolverine attacking a human. Wolverines are large, powerful, and have the bodily strength of killing a human. They must not be threatened at any cost. The medium-sized cat, the Canada lynx is another dangerous animal, even though it is known for attacking the snowshoe hare more than humans, it can attack a human if it feels threatened.Endangered Animals In The ArcticClimate change, hunting, extraction of fossil fuels in the Arctic region, and other related activities have led to a sharp decline in the population of some of the indigenous animals in the Arctic region. The Arctic has been home to a large number of species for centuries, many of these animals are now incapable of living in temperate conditions as they have exclusively adapted to live in Arctic conditions.Polar bears in the Arctic have seen their numbers drastically fall due to climate change as a result of melting sea ice. Polar bears use pack ice for giving birth, for living on, and also for food because seals which are the primary source of food for polar bears come on the ice occasionally. Due to a decline in ice cover and food availability, the polar bear is now a Vulnerable species. Diminishing ice and increased hunting activities have led to a fall in the population of Arctic foxes as well. In countries like Finland, Sweden, and Norway there has been an emergence of red foxes which compete with Arctic foxes for food and when they cannot get enough, they go on to attack their competition.Wood bison and caribou are some of the other animals which are now considered Endangered due to an increase in oil and mining projects which have led to a decrease in forest cover. The beluga whale and the narwhal have also seen a dip in their populations due to environmental changes, increased extraction projects, and hunting activities as well. Scientists have also noted a fall in the population of birds like the prairie pigeon and the Arctic peregrine falcon due to eating contaminated prey and increasing hunting activities. These birds are now rarely spotted and are on the verge of extinction.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning about the different Arctic creatures then why not take a look at Arctic characteristics, or Arctic Ocean facts.
If you go on a trip to the Arctic Circle on an Arctic cruise, especially during the months of May to September, there is a high chance you may see a number of these animals.
