Cold-weather Creatures

In Shishmaref, Alaska, where food costs are triple those of typical U.S. cities, hunting is an economic necessity. Bearded seals­—the staple of the community’s diet—have become harder to hunt as sea ice has decreased.

The eyes of most animals cannot cope with ultraviolet light because it carries enough energy to damage vision. However, living on Arctic frozen wastes that reflect around 90% of the UV light, reindeer have adapted to see it.

The beautiful white coat of the polar bear is excellent insulation, composed of hollow hairs. Only their nose and eyes radiate heat, so they cover them with their paws when they sleep.

tusk
Walruses use their tusks to chop breathing holes in ice and to get from water onto floes, jabbing the ice as it hoists up its body.

During October and November Hudson Bay chills and Churchill becomes a hot spot for getting a close look at polar bears as they migrate.

A robust population of snow leopards roam the mountains of Afghanistan, a relief to conservationists worried about the effects of local conflict on the wildlife.

A robust population of snow leopards roam the mountains of Afghanistan, a relief to conservationists worried about the effects of local conflict on the wildlife.

While their modern day counterparts are rather rotund, the reconstructed skeleton of a prehistoric penguin reveals a svelte body specialized for hunting fish.

While their modern day counterparts are rather rotund, the reconstructed skeleton of a prehistoric penguin reveals a svelte body specialized for hunting fish.

The eyes of most animals cannot cope with ultraviolet light because it carries enough energy to damage vision. However, living on Arctic frozen wastes that reflect around 90% of the UV light, reindeer have adapted to see it.