From Polar bears and Grizzlies … to wolverines and venomous sharks ... Here are 13 of the Most Dangerous Animals in the Arctic
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#6 Grizzly Bear
There’s been speculation about where the name ‘Grizzly Bear” originates. It was first recorded by Lewis and Clark as ‘Grisley’, as in gruesome or fearsome. Or it could mean Grizzly as a reference to the animals being rugged or grizzled. The modern spelling supposes the latter meaning. But scientists typically don’t refer to the carnivore by its popular name anyway. They prefer to call it the North American Brown Bear, of which there are several subspecies including this one. The largest specimens have weighed around 1,500 pounds (680 kg). But a more typical weight is about 800 pounds (363 kg), with a length of 6.5 feet (2 m). They’re considered to be more aggressive than black bears, especially when defending their cubs. Mother bears are actually the most likely to attack, and account for the majority of humans killed by the animals. And their bite has been measured at around 1,160 psi (pounds per square inch) which is said to be powerful enough to crush a bowling ball. These beasts commonly appear in the Arctic regions of Canada where they’ve encountered Polar bears and produced hybrid offspring. Check segment #11 for the story on that meet-up
#5 Arctic Wolf
This is a medium sized subspecies of gray wolf that occurs within the Canadian Arctic archipelago. Since they don’t encounter humans too often, the animals have no fear of us. Several attacks have been documented involving aggressive wolves that lived near human settlements. In one case, a wolf attacked three people before being shot. In the wild, these animals prey mainly on muskoxen, reindeer, and Arctic hares. Wildlife biologists say they still don't know much about the Arctic wolf’s behavior due to its harsh habitat. The animals are difficult to research because they only migrate in wintertime when it’s dark 24 hours a day.
#4 Polar Bears Part 1
Most sources recognize this carnivorous beast as the largest species of bear. And according to Guinness they are the world’s largest terrestrial carnivores. Its native range is in the Arctic Circle where they are acknowledged as an apex predator. They mainly feed on seals. And they spend so much time on the ice hunting them, the bears are classified as marine mammals.
If seals aren’t available they can smell a food source that’s almost a mile away, even if it’s buried beneath the snow. These ursids (er-sids) can weigh more than 1,500 pounds (680 kg), and measure up to 10 feet in total length (3 m). Adaptations to their frozen Arctic environment, including sharp claws, and large furry feet that give them good traction on the ice. If you like these beasts, don’t wander off. There’s another segment about them coming up.
#3 Wolverine
These stocky and muscular critters can resemble bears, and are the largest members found in the weasel family. They have a reputation for being powerful beasts that can take down prey much larger than itself, including adult deer. That’s not to say these creatures don’t have predators of their own. Grey wolves are their deadliest natural enemy. But with its sharp claws, thick hide, and strong jaws, this animal is fearless enough to fight black bears for their kill. Their bold and tough nature has made them popular choices as mascots for various sports teams and organizations. Although these days when you Google ‘Wolverine’ you get zillions of hits for the character from the X-Men movies and comic books. Wolverines can be found across much of the Old World, including Siberia, the Russian Far East, and China. New World wolverines are thought to live mainly in isolated Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska.
#2 Polar Bears Part 2
Since the animal is so large, we needed two segments to do it justice. We mentioned earlier how Polar Bears mainly feed on seals. But they’ll also go after whales, including Narwhal (nor-wall) and Beluga Whales by swiping at them at breathing holes. Other prey can include walruses, although those beasts can be a difficult take-down even for bears. They’re also known to dive under the ice and catch fish like the Arctic Charr. Since Polar bears don’t hibernate, potential prey has to be wary at all times. That includes humans. Polar bears have no fear of humans and have been known to kill and consume them. Their unpredictable nature, along with their skill at stealth hunting makes the animals a potential danger. However, such attacks tend to be rare since they’ll normally seek to avoid confrontation. But it’s still not a good idea to get in their face.
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