Category: On the Ice

Hooded Seal

The Hooded Seal is one of the largest seal species in the world. Their pups have a very beautiful grayish blue fur. These young seals are called bluebacks and they were often hunted for their soft, beautiful coats. This species inhabit territories in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as in waters

Harbor Seal

The Harbor Seal also known as the Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) is incredibly adapted to living in the cold and temperate waters. These animals are common in the northern waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Harbor Seals are well suited to living in very cold weather Males reach a size of 160-185 cm,


The Beluga, also commonly referred to as the White Whale is a species of predatory whales that live in the arctic waters. They are also often called “sea canaries” because many of the sounds they emit underwater can also be heard above the surface. Beluga’s white skin colour provides  great camouflage in the waters they

Opilio Crab

Chionoecetes, the proper name of the Opilio Crab is a genus of crab that lives in the colder waters of the northern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans . The Opilio Crab is very spider like in appearance and has four pairs of legs that are quite spindly looking. The Opilio is one of the four species

Antarctic Krill

Krill are small crustaceans that are a great deal like shrimp and live an swim in the arctic seas. Krill are pink and translucent, and congregate in very large groups, dense masses that are termed swarms or clouds, which turn the surface of the ocean bright pink. Krill are very important in ecology as part

Sea Otter

The sea otter is one of the very smallest marine mammals, and spends most of its life in the sea. Males weigh about 100 pounds and are about five feet long, while the females are smaller weighing about 60-75 pounds and measure just about 3-4 feet long. The sea otters have the thickest fur of

Alaskan King Crab

King Crabs, or as they are sometimes known, stone crabs exist around the world, but the Alaskan king Crab is made up of three different types that are fished for commercially, blue king crabs, golden king crabs and red king crabs. The mature male of the species will usually have a leg span of around


Narwhals are arctic animals which are related to the whale and are called cetaceans. They are rarely found south of the Arctic. Narwhals are a species of white whale. There is only one other white whale which is the beluga whale. The narwhal is also known as the Moon Whale. The most unique part of

Harp Seal

Harp seals are pinnipeds, which mean that they are able to live on land and in the water. They are very social creatures who stay together in large herds but only form bonds with their young. Ancestors of the seals were most likely dogs. Perhaps that is why their young are called pups. Creatures that

Snow Leopard

Among the most rugged and mountaineer areas of Asia and the Himalayas lives a large cat who traverses them with no problems or difficulties. He can pad silently across the snow with minimal problem at all except one. Man. Hunted for its marvelous pelts for the fur trade, illegal wildlife traders and the loss of


Is what is known as a pinniped. Their name means (pinni) wing, and (ped) meaning foot. This means they have a wing like feet. Walruses are the very largest pinnipeds in the Arctic. They enjoy living in shallow areas in the water and ice floes or land to lie on. There are two kinds of

Dall Sheep

Dall sheep have an extremely wide range of habitat. They are arctic, but also sub arctic animals. Dall Sheep will range from alpine ridges, meadows and anywhere they feel able to easily escape. They fly into the rocky slopes where predators such as human, bear and wolves have great trouble navigating. The male Dall Sheep,

Musk Ox

The Musk Ox, which is known to the Alaskan natives as a Oomingmak, meaning animal with a beard, are extremely large animals, standing 3-5 feet at the shoulder and weighing in at between500 and 900 pounds. They have shaggy fur which covers the entire body, including the udders on the female. Their horns are wide

Collared Lemming

Another of our Artic friends, the collared lemming is particularly interesting because he has adapted so well to the Arctic. The Collared Lemming is not a “true” lemming in every sense of the word, but it is a small rodent type animal that burrows beneath the snow to make long tunnels and nesting rooms. Due