Land Animals of the Arctic: How They Live and the Challenges They Face

Of all the inhospitable places on the planet, one of the most daunting for humans to explore, much less make their home, is the Arctic. Located at the top and bottommost places on the planet, the frigid homelands that mark our North and South poles are home to some of the hardiest, most specialized creatures that walk, or in some cases swim, the Earth.

The Arctic is a vast and unique biome defined by its icy landscapes, frigid temperatures, and extreme conditions that would be a death sentence to less hardy creatures. Despite these challenges and its relative distance from anywhere remotely hospitable, the Arctic boasts an extraordinary array of land animals. The many creatures that call the Arctic their hime have adapted to survive in one of the most challenging environments in the world, yet despite their remarkable resilience, many of these animals now face annihilation thanks to the rather untimely intervention of a relatively new species; mankind.

The Arctic is currently under threat from a variety of environmental problems including climate change, habitat destruction, and other destructive human activities. This has resulted in many of its iconic species being put at risk of extinction. In this article, we will travel deep into the heart of the Arctic to explore the fascinating lives of Arctic land animals. We will examine what amazing adaptations allow them to survive in these harsh climes, while delving into the many growing threats they face as a result of human activity. So grab a snowsuit and sail with us to the very ends of the Earth!

The Arctic Ecosystem: A Frozen Habitat

When we talk about the Arctic, we are referring most especially to the Arctic Circle, which encompasses the northernmost parts of the Earth. This includes parts of Canada, Greenland, Russia, Norway, and Alaska. We could discuss the southermost part of the planet as well, but Antarctica is home to precious few land animals. Flightless birds, such as penguins dwell in that area and make up the bulk of terrestrial life there. For the purposes of this article, we shall leave off those unique and fascinating birds for another time. In any case, the Arctic Circle and all the aforementioned places that it encompasses are characterized by three main factors:

These three factors equal one fragile, unforgiving ecosystem where every species plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall balance.

Iconic Land Animals of the Arctic

Polar Bears

We have all seen the iconic and breathtaking image of the pure white polar bear. These ursine giants are perhaps the most recognizable Arctic animals on the planet. Polar bears primarily depend on sea ice to hunt seals, yet they spend considerable time on land during the summer months when ice is scarce.

Adaptations:

• Thick Fur and Fat: Polar bears have layers of blubber and dense fur that provide insulation against the freezing temperatures of their natural habitat
• Large Paws: The large paws of polar bears have adapted so that they are perfect for walking on ice and swimming in frigid waters.
• Acute Sense of Smell: The polar bear’s acute senses can detect prey up to a mile away under the snow.

Threats:

As the ice melts due to the constantly-rising temperatures of global warming, polar bears are forced to travel greater and greater distances to find food. Not only has this forced them to range further south than they have ever been, many polar bears in the wild are suffering with malnutrition, which has led to decreased reproduction rates.

Arctic Foxes

The shy but cunning Arctic fox is a master of survival when it comes to living in extreme cold. These clever little creatures can not only survive in temperatures as low as -58°F (-50°C), they can thrive in them!

Adaptations:

• Seasonal Camouflage: Arctic foxes have white fur in winter blends with snow, which turns to brown or gray in summer to match the tundra.
• Efficient Metabolism: Arctic foxes have extremely efficient metabolisms that conserves energy and allows them to survive with minimal food during lean months.
• Diverse Diet: Arctic foxes are not picky eaters. They will feed on small mammals like lemmings, just as often as they will fish, birds, and even carrion.

Threats:

Like the polar bears, Arctic foxes have been seriously affected by climate change, which has reduced prey availability in their native ecosystems. There is also newfound competition with red foxes, which are expanding into Arctic territories.

Caribou (Reindeer)

Caribou or Reindeer as many people probably recognize them as, are well-suited for life on the tundra. These majestic herd animals migrate long distances across their frozen homeland to find food and safe places to breed.

Adaptations:

• Hooves for All Seasons: Reindeer have broad, sharp-edged hooves that can cut through ice and snow. The cushioned pads on the bottom of those hooves also help them traverse soft tundra.
• Thick Coat: Caribou have a double-layered coat that traps air and provides insulation against the cold.
• Migration: Reindeer travel over 3,000 miles annually in search of food. This is one of the longest land migrations of any animal alive today.

Threats:

Reindeer face a mixture of habitat loss from oil and gas development, coupled with warming temperatures caused by climate change. These environmental factors impact not only their food sources but the borders of their significant territory. This has caused the reindeer population to decline for the past few decades.

Musk Oxen

Musk oxen may not be familiar to every reader, but these ancient Arctic herbivores have roamed the Arctic tundra for thousands of years.

Adaptations:

• Thick Coat: Musk oxen have long, shaggy fur, called qiviut. This is among the warmest natural fibers in the world.
• Herd Behavior: When threatened, herds of musk oxen form protective circles to shield calves from predators like wolves. Paleontologists believe that ceratopsian dinosaurs like Triceratops might have used this behavior as well, since both animals have horns on their heads to defend, fight, and display dominance.
• Foraging Ability: Musk oxen use their sharp hooves to dig through snow for mosses and lichens.

Threats:

Like so many Arctic animals, climate change and newfound diseases introduced by warming temperatures have proven to be a pretty significant threat to musk oxen populations.

Lemmings

The tiniest animal on our list is also among the strangest. Lemmings are small rodents are an essential piece of the Arctic food web, serving as prey for many predators like Arctic foxes, snowy owls, and many other predatory creatures.

Adaptations:

• High Reproductive Rate: As rodents, lemmings are prodigious breeders. In fact, they are known to breed faster than many other rodent species, which allows their population to recover after predation.
• Burrowing: Lemmings live under the snow during winter, which allows them to stay warm and forage on roots and mosses.

Threats:

Warmer winters caused by climate change have resulted in thinner snow cover, which leaves lemmings more exposed to predators and unexpected freezes.

Arctic Wolves

Arctic wolves are a subspecies of gray wolves, which usually tend to range further south. These northern cousins, however, roam the icy tundra in search of prey animals like caribou, musk oxen, and lemmings.

Adaptations:

• Thick Fur: Arctic wolves have thick fur that insulates them against sub-zero temperatures.
• Social Hunting: Highly-social animals, wolves use pack hunting tactics that allow them to take down large prey.
• Efficient Energy Use: Arctic wolves have excellent stamina and can travel long distances without tiring.

Threats:

Like many of the world’s wild wolves, habitat loss and reduced prey availability due to climate change continues to threaten their survival.

Adaptations for Survival

Arctic animals have evolved some rather remarkable adaptations that have allowed them to thrive in their harsh environment. Aside from the ones referenced in the sections above, others include:

Physical Adaptations

• Insulation: Fur, feathers, and fat layers keep animals warm in exceptionally cold environments.
• Compact Bodies: The short ears and tails found on Arctic animals vastly reduce heat loss.
• Seasonal Changes: Many animals possess camouflage and experience changes in fur thickness and color across the seasons. These adaptaions help animals adapt to seasonal extremes.

Behavioral Adaptations

• Migration: Many animals, like caribou, migrate over great distances to find food, breed, and mainly avoid harsh Arctic winters.
• Hibernation: Some, though not all animals that live in these areas will enter a state of dormancy to conserve energy in especially cold times.
• Caching: Animals like Arctic foxes will actually store food in their burrows during plentiful times so that they can use it later, when resources are scarce.

The Impact of Climate Change

As harsh as it may seem to those of us who only view it through the lens of National Geographic, the Arctic is sadly one of the most fragile and rapidly changing regions on Earth. This distant biome is experiencing the effects of climate change more dramatically than almost anywhere else. Scientists have deduced that this region is warming at twice the rate of the global average, a phenomenon referred to as Arctic amplification. The consequences of this rapid warming are many, and they extend far beyond the polar circle itself, affecting global weather patterns, sea levels, and biodiversity across the planet.

Melting Sea Ice and Habitat Loss

The Arctic’s iconic sea ice, which provides crucial habitat for species like polar bears, seals, and walruses, is disappearing at an alarming rate. The current theory is that summer sea ice has declined by over 40% since 1979, and scientists predict that it could vanish entirely during summer months within the next few decades. This would have a catastrophic effect on local wildlife, especially for apex predators like polar bears, who rely on that ice in order to hunt their primary food source; seals.

Walruses are another species that is heavily dependent on sea ice. These marine mammals use the ice as resting platforms when they are out diving for clams and other food on the seafloor. Unfortunately, without the ice, many walruses are then forced to haul out on land in massive numbers, leading to overcrowding and increased risks of stampedes, which can be deadly for walrus calves.

Thawing Permafrost and Ecosystem Disruption

Beneath the Arctic tundra, another valuable commodity sat undisturbed for countless eons. This is the resting place of permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen ground that acts as a storage vault for carbon and methane. The seemingly-endless rise of global temperatures have begun to thaw this permafrost, whose name feels less and less permanent with each passing day. As the permafrost melts, its stored greenhouse gases are sent back up into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and creating a dangerous feedback loop. Thawing permafrost doesn’t just exacerbate the climate crisis we created, either, it also destabilizes landscapes, leading to sinkholes and infrastructure damage in Arctic communities.

Human Activities and Their Consequences

It’s safe to assume that most human activities that take place on, near, or even far away from the Arctic fiully exacerbate the challenges that native Arctic animals face.

Oil and Gas Exploration

Drilling operations looking for crude oil greatly disrupt Arctic habitats. They also impact vital migration routes for species like caribou and musk oxen. Oil spills are even worse and can have devastating effects on these already fragile ecosystems.

Pollution

Contaminants like mercury and plastic waste have also made their way into Arctic ecosystems. As this pollution accumulates it harms local wildlife, vegetation, and clean water sources.

Hunting and Overharvesting

Unsustainable hunting practices wrought by greedy human enterprises have historically driven some species, like the musk ox, to near extinction.

Conservation Efforts: Protecting Arctic Wildlife

Fortunately for many of these endangered Arctic inhabitants, conservation experts are working hard to protect them from the mistakes our species have already made. Unfortunately, further assistance would require global cooperation and innovative solutions that might not be possible until after the damage has been irreversibly done.

Habitat Protection

• Wildlife Refuges: Protected areas like Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge provide safe habitats for threatened Arctic species.
• Marine Reserves: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Marine Sanctuaries located in Arctic waters protect areas where semi-aquatic land animals like polar bears depend on sea ice.

Mitigating Climate Change

• The best hope for mitigating climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Such drastic action is essential to slowing Arctic warming.
• Governments and business alike need to start supporting renewable energy initiatives, the end goal being to reduce the need for oil and gas exploration in the Arctic region.

Community Involvement

• Fortunately, indigenous communities have valuable knowledge about Arctic ecosystems and have helped to play a vital role in continued conservation efforts.
• The best way to move forward and gain support is to educate the public about the Arctic’s importance. This can help foster support for more valuable and effective preservation efforts down the line

True Investigator Says…

The incredible land animals of the Arctic are resilient and hardy creatures, but thanks to climate change, they now face unprecedented challenges in a rapidly changing world. The survival of these creatures depends greatly on our own ability to make positive changes in the world and undo some of the damage we have already done as a species. By protecting habitats, mitigating climate change, and supporting conservation initiatives, we can ensure the future of these amazing creatures for centuries to come.