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Winter Wildlife: Life in the Polar Night

Winter in Svalbard stretches from roughly November to April, with the darkest period of polar night from late November to mid-January when the sun never rises. Temperatures can drop below -30°C, winds climb over 20 m/s, and sea ice spreads along fjords and coastlines. Only the most specialized animals remain active in this frozen darkness.​

Polar Bears: Kings of the Ice 

This is the obvious one ;)
Polar bears are the undisputed icons of Svalbard’s winter, roaming widely over sea ice and coastal areas in search of seals. The Barents Sea population, which includes Svalbard, is estimated at a few thousand individuals, making this one of the best places on Earth to encounter them—always at a safe distance.​

• Weight: Large males can reach 600–700 kg; females are much smaller, especially when nursing cubs.​

• Hunting strategy: Bears use their incredible sense of smell to locate ringed seals breathing through holes in the ice, then wait motionless before launching a surprise attack.​

• Winter behaviour: In midwinter, polar bears often follow the sea ice edge or drift with pack ice, taking advantage of stable hunting platforms that are becoming increasingly threatened by climate change.​

Encounters in winter are more likely on snowmobile expeditions or along ice-covered fjords, but strict safety and distance rules apply to protect both bears and visitors.​

 

Svalbard Reindeer: Tundra Specialists

The Svalbard reindeer is an endemic subspecies found only here, compact and barrel-shaped with short legs and thick fur to reduce heat loss. They are landscape-defining animals, often seen near Longyearbyen, Adventdalen, and other valleys used by winter tours.​

• Winter diet: Reindeer dig through hard-packed snow with their hooves to reach lichens, mosses, and frozen grasses, creating distinctive “craters”.​

• Adaptations: Their low, stocky build and very thick winter coat allow them to withstand windchill far below freezing while continuing to forage.​

• Social life: In winter they are often found in small groups or alone, conserving energy and moving slowly across the tundra.​

Seeing a reindeer calmly scraping through snow in blue polar twilight is one of the signature winter scenes of Svalbard.​

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Arctic Fox: Ghost of the Snow

The Arctic fox is a master survivor of winter, changing its fur from brown-grey in summer to pure white in winter for camouflage. Agile and curious, foxes are sometimes spotted close to settlements, following tracks of snowmobiles or patrols.​

• Diet: In winter they scavenge leftovers from polar bear kills, search for dead seabirds, and hunt ptarmigan or small mammals where available.​

• Movement: Collared foxes have been recorded traveling hundreds of kilometres over sea ice, demonstrating phenomenal endurance.​

• Winter strategy: They survive by being opportunistic and mobile, constantly following scent trails and tracks.​

For guests, the flick of a white tail behind a snowdrift or tiny tracks crossing a frozen river is often the only sign of these elusive predators.​

 

Winter Birds and Marine Mammals

Although most birds migrate south, a few hardy species remain all year:

• Svalbard rock ptarmigan: Svalbard’s only year-round land bird, with fully feathered legs and feet acting as natural snowshoes.​

• Black guillemot and eider: These ducks and seabirds overwinter in ice-free leads and polynyas where they can still dive for food.​

Marine mammals remain active under the ice:

• Ringed and bearded seals: Essential prey for polar bears, these seals maintain breathing holes and sometimes haul out on fast ice.​

• Occasional walrus: Some individuals stay near polynyas or ice edges even in midwinter, though large haul-outs are more typical in summer.​

Winter wildlife viewing often focuses on tracks, silhouettes, and subtle signs more than large animal gatherings, but the atmosphere is unique—quiet, dark, and otherworldly.​

 

Summer Wildlife: Midnight Sun and Explosive Life

From May to late August, Svalbard experiences the midnight sun, with continuous daylight and rapidly retreating snow and sea ice. This period triggers an explosion of life as migratory birds, whales, and more walruses arrive to breed and feed.​

Walruses: Giants of the Haul-Outs

Walruses are among the most charismatic animals to see in Svalbard’s summer, gathering in noisy colonies on beaches and shallow coastal islands.​

• Haul-out sites: Popular places include islands in Hinlopen Strait, Edgeøya region, and some sites accessible from Longyearbyen-based boat trips.​

• Behaviour: Walruses use their long tusks to haul their heavy bodies onto ice or land, then pile together in large, often vocal groups.​

• Diet: They dive to the seabed to feed mainly on clams and other benthic invertebrates, using their sensitive whiskers to detect prey.​

Watching a haul-out from a respectful distance by boat is a classic Svalbard summer experience and a prime subject for wildlife photography.​

 

Whales: Giants of the Fjords

Svalbard’s nutrient-rich waters attract multiple whale species in summer, drawn by dense concentrations of krill and fish.​

Common summer sightings include:

• Humpback whales: Known for dramatic breaching and fluke dives, often feeding near glacier fronts.​

• Minke whales: Smaller and quicker, frequently seen surfacing in fjords.​

• Fin and blue whales: The second-largest and largest animals on Earth, sometimes observed in deeper offshore waters.​

• Beluga whales: White, highly social whales often seen in family groups near shallow bays and river mouths.​

Some of the best chances to see whales are on dedicated summer boat trips and expedition cruises around the west and north coasts of Spitsbergen.​

 

Seabird Cities: Cliffs Alive with Wings

Summer transforms Svalbard’s cliffs into vertical cities, with hundreds of thousands of seabirds nesting on narrow ledges.​

Key cliff species include:

• Brünnich’s guillemot and common guillemot: Pack tightly onto cliff ledges, forming vast, noisy colonies.​

• Black-legged kittiwakes: Graceful gulls that build nests on tiny ledges, filling the air with calls.​

• Atlantic puffins: Everyone’s favourite, nesting in burrows and rafts on the sea surface below cliffs.​

• Arctic terns: Fiercely protective birds known for aggressive dive-bombing to defend their nests, often near flat tundra and shorelines.​

Sites like Alkhornet and other bird cliffs along the west coast offer spectacular viewing of these colonies from boats or guided hikes.​

 

Summer on Land: Reindeer, Foxes and Tundra

When the snow melts and tundra greens, Svalbard’s land animals shift into a short, intense growing and breeding season.​

• Svalbard reindeer: Females give birth in early summer and must quickly regain condition by grazing lush sedges, mosses, and flowering plants.​

• Arctic foxes: Switch from scavenging in winter to active hunting of eggs, chicks, and small prey, often patrolling under bird cliffs.​

• Geese and ducks: Barnacle and pink-footed geese, as well as eider ducks, nest on tundra and along shores, bringing more life to valleys and coastlines.​

Summer hikes around Longyearbyen or on landing sites during cruises often feature relaxed reindeer grazing nearby and foxes darting over slopes.​

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Seasonal Wildlife Highlights for Visitors

Different seasons provide different photographic and wildlife opportunities, so planning with clear expectations is essential.

SeasonTypical MonthsKey AnimalsBest Experiences

Deep WinterDec–FebPolar bears, reindeer, Arctic fox, ptarmigan ​Snowmobile safaris, polar night photography ​

Late Winter / Early SpringMar–AprSame as above + more light, early birds ​Longer snowmobile trips, ice-edge scouting ​

Early SummerMay–JunWalrus, returning seabirds, whales appear ​Boat tours, fjord safaris, tundra hikes ​

High SummerJul–AugFull bird cliffs, whale peak, reindeer calves ​Expedition cruises, zodiac landings, glacier fronts ​

 

Unique Adaptations of Svalbard Animals

Every resident and seasonal visitor to Svalbard has evolved specialized traits to cope with the Arctic environment.​

• Polar bears: Black skin beneath translucent fur helps absorb solar radiation; enormous paws act as snowshoes and paddles.​

• Svalbard reindeer: Short legs, rounded bodies, and dense fur reduce heat loss; they move slowly to conserve energy.​

• Arctic fox: High metabolic flexibility and dense fur allow survival at extreme cold; coat color changes with the seasons.​

• Seabirds: Efficient wing shapes and diving behaviors enable deep foraging in icy waters; guano from colonies fertilizes tundra, boosting plant growth.​

• Walruses: Long tusks and sensitive whiskers help them detect prey and haul out onto ice; thick blubber stores energy and insulation.​

These adaptations form a tightly interconnected ecosystem, where the health of sea ice, plankton, and fish stocks directly affects top predators.​

 

Conservation, Climate Change and Responsible Tourism

Svalbard’s wildlife is protected by strict regulations aimed at minimizing human impact while allowing sustainable tourism. Visitors must follow distance rules for polar bears, walruses, and nesting birds, and guides are required to carry firearms for polar bear safety in the field.​

Climate change is the major long-term threat:

• Sea ice loss: Shorter ice seasons reduce polar bear hunting time and may affect ringed seal breeding.​

• Ecosystem shifts: Changes in sea temperature and currents can alter fish and krill distributions, impacting whales and seabirds.​

• Weather extremes: More frequent rain-on-snow events can lock reindeer pastures under ice, leading to starvation.​

Tour operators like MyArctic.eu contribute to conservation by using small groups, respecting distance guidelines, and educating visitors about Svalbard’s fragile ecosystems.​​

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Plan Your Svalbard Wildlife Adventure with MyArctic

Whether visitors dream of following polar bear tracks under the stars of the polar night, or drifting in a boat past roaring walrus colonies under the midnight sun, Svalbard offers unforgettable wildlife experiences in every season. MyArctic.eu, based in Longyearbyen, connects guests with local guides who know where and when to look for animals safely and responsibly, tailoring tours for photographers, families, and adventure travelers alike.​

By understanding how Svalbard’s animals live in winter and summer, every guest steps onto the tundra or climbs into a boat with deeper respect for this fragile Arctic wilderness—and with a higher chance of encountering the iconic wildlife that makes the High North so unique.​

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