Hobbies And Interests
Polar Bear
The polar bear is the largest carnivore on Earth, but its existence is under threat due to the shrinking of the polar ice cap. They are particularly dependent upon the Arctic ice pack, their main source of food being marine life. According to the ThinkQuest website, "Females may prefer ice along the shoreline while others prefer moving sea ice at the floe edge--usually within 180 miles of shore."
Arctic Fox
The Arctic fox can be found in two types of habitats: inland and coastal. Coastal Arctic foxes prey upon marine life along the shoreline. In spring and summer, "ringed seal pups, seabirds, geese, bird eggs and rock ptarmigan are the major prey items," says the Norwegian Polar Institute website. In winter, Arctic foxes survive on food stored during the summer and autumn months, as well as seal and caribou carcasses.
Caribou
Caribou range throughout the Arctic tundra of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia. The Alaskan Arctic coastal plain attracts migratory herds of caribou each year. These herds migrate to the coastal plain and its shoreline to calve their young, escape predators and find relief from biting insects, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society website.
Seals
Six different species of seal live in the Arctic: bearded seals, harp seals, hooded seals, ringed seals, ribbon seals and spotted seals. According to the Ice Stories website, "These Arctic species are called ice seals because they spend the bulk of their lives on or near sea ice." Ribbon seals are commonly found at the outermost edges of the sea ice, making them particularly vulnerable to habitat disruptions caused by the continued shrinking of these ice floes.
Walruses
The walrus has long been an important source of meat, fat, skin and bone for the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. "Walruses spend one third of their time on land or pack ice and the other two thirds in the ocean," says the MarineBio.net website. Walruses dive to depths of about 300 feet to feed on shellfish such as clams, whelks, cockles and mussels.
Birds
Many different types of birds can be seen along the Arctic shoreline, particularly during the warmer months. A large number of these birds are migratory, heading for warmer climates when the Arctic becomes too cold. Curlews, sandpipers, plovers, gulls and snow geese are just a few of the birds that spend time on the Arctic coastline.