15 Arctic Animals That Love the Snow

Most Arctic animals turn white to blend in with the snowy landscape. Naturally, we think they're adorable.

When you imagine Arctic animals, penguins probably come to mind. Penguins don’t live in the Arctic, however. They live on every continent, including Antarctica, but none live in the Arctic itself.

But there are dozens of creatures that do live in the Arctic, and most of them are uniquely adapted to the icy conditions. Case in point: They either turn pure white in winter to match the snow or stay that color all year round. It was tough to choose a favorite, but we did our best to rank these whimsical, wintery critters.

15. Snow Goose

A snow goose comes in for a landing at Middle Creek Wildlife Refuge

Cwieders / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 6/10

Can kill you factor: 1/10

The snow goose is cute, but it didn’t rank higher on the list for obvious reasons: It’s basically just a goose. It doesn’t look much different than any other goose, only it’s mostly white. They’re loud, they poop up to 15 times an hour, and they fly in massive, honking flocks.

They migrate to the Arctic tundra at the end of each winter to breed, but they’re common sights all across North America during the coldest part of the year. Cute, but annoying. They can give you a nasty peck, but you don’t have to run for your life if you spot one.

14. Dall Sheep

Male Dall Sheep, Ovis dalli, Kluane National Park, Yukon, Canada,

Gerald Corsi / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 7/10

Can kill you factor: 2/10

Look at this distinguished gentleman. Such poise. Such class. What a smile. Dall sheep rams have massive, curling horns that grow steadily through spring and summer. By late fall, growth tapers off and stops until spring comes again, resulting in a pattern of rings. Their horns are impressive, but we like their fluffy coats even more. They can weigh up to 300 pounds, so the amount of floof is substantial.

13. Arctic Tern

Pengranger / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 8/10

Can kill you factor: 0/10

The small, delicately built Arctic tern is small but mighty. Arctic terns weigh less than a quarter of a pound, but they have the longest annual migration of any animal in the world. Every year, they fly from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle. It’s such a long journey that they’ve adapted to sleeping and eating while gliding. Very cute, very cool, and they won’t give you more than a peck of annoyance with their bright orange beak.

12. Narwhal

Narwhal, male Monodon monoceros swimming in the ocean water

dottedhippo / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 8/10

Can kill you factor: 4/10

Yes, narwhals are real. They can weigh more than 4,000 pounds, and their sharp tusks can reach up to 10 feet in length. Tusks are usually found on males, but they’ve earned the entire species the title of “unicorn of the sea.” Most whale species migrate, but narwhals spend their entire lives in Arctic waters, with about five months of each year spent under sea ice. They’re fans of halibut, cod, squid and shrimp, so you can totally invite one on a sushi date.

11. Arctic Wolf

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Cuteness factor: 8/10

Can kill you factor: 5/10

The Arctic wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf. It shares many of the qualities of the grey wolf, only they’re smaller and have more compact features to help them retain heat in their frigid habitat. Their isolated location has shielded Arctic wolves from the threats of human settlements and hunting, but climate change is still a concern. Thankfully, their population numbers are stable for now.

They look a lot like Siberian huskies, only snuggling them is a terrible idea.

10. Beluga Whale

racheldonahue / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 8.5/10

Can kill you factor: 3/10

Some whales are intimidating, but not the beluga. This plump sea nugget is downright jolly. Beluga’s like to sing so much that they’re known as “sea canaries,” and they’re actually a close relative of the narwhal. The two species are the only two members of the Mondontidae family, setting them apart from other whales and dolphins.

Belugas aren’t dangerous, and they’ve been known to help out humans in distress by pushing them to the surface for air. What a good blubber nugget!

9. Reindeer

Cute baby reindeer. JellisV / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 8.5/10

Can kill you factor: 5/10

Most of the time, reindeer aren’t scary at all. They’re also called caribou, and they’re shy creatures that prefer to avoid people. In Arctic and Subarctic regions, people have been herding them for centuries. Their coloration varies depending on where they live, with those dwelling in the northernmost limits of their range appearing much lighter in color.

They’re moderately fluffy, and they help out Santa. We’re big fans. They’re also unlikely to kill you unless you run into a buck during mating season when altercations with humans are much more common.

8. Collared Lemming

tobiasjo / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 9/10

Can kill you factor: 0/10

If you combined a guinea pig, a hamster and a cotton ball, you’d have a collared lemming. They turn pure white in winter, resembling grapefruit-sized pompoms with faces. They’re herbivores, so there’s zero chance they’ll try to kill you. Plus, even if they did, it would be like being attacked by a bedroom slipper. We didn’t think a creature that looks so soft would be tough enough to make it on the Arctic tundra, but here we are.

7. Snowy Owl

Jim_Pintar / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 9/10

Can kill you factor: 3/10

Snowy owls are one of the few avian species that literally anyone will run outside to see. Not blue jays, not cardinals, not even bald eagles generate the excitement of spotting Hedwig in the wild. Snowy owls spend most of the year in the Arctic, but they can be spotted in the upper regions of the U.S. in winter. Their huge, cat-like yellow eyes are mesmerizing.

All snowy owls start out with dark markings that lighten with age. Pure white birds are usually males, however, with females retaining more dark pigment. They can’t kill you, but they will defend their breeding areas fiercely if you intrude.

6. Ptarmigan

Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 9.5/10

Can kill you factor: 0/10

Ptarmigans are known in Japan as “thunderbirds,” as “hare feet” in Greek and as “snow chickens” in the U.S. Can you guess which one is our favorite? A relative to the grouse, ptarmigans live in the Arctic and turn white in winter. They live in large flocks, usually divided by gender, and they behave a lot like chickens. Chickens wouldn’t last very long in the Arctic, however.

5. Polar Bear

AndreAnita / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 11/10

Can kill you factor: 10/10

Polar bears might be the only Arctic animal that you should really exercise caution around. The fact that they look like giant, Christmas teddy bears doesn’t help. They’re not malicious, but they’re large enough to see people as food and to kill a human in a single swipe if they get too close to their cubs. Stay away, and if you do encounter a polar bear, back away slowly.

They have black skin under their translucent coat, and they can swim for days on end. They’re so good at it that they’re classified as marine animals.

4. Harp Seal

Sunvincible / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 12/10

Can kill you factor: 2/10

Adult harp seals are about the length of an adult human, but they weigh about 400 pounds. You might not like your extra layer of winter blubber, but blubber is necessary for harp seals to stay warm in icy Arctic waters. They’re named after the dark patch that forms on their backs when they grow up, which is shaped like a harp.

They’re the cutest, however, when they’re babies. In the first few weeks of life, they have a thick, woolly white coat that makes them resemble living Squishmallows.

3. Arctic Hare

VisualCommunications / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 12/10

Can kill you factor: 0/10

Arctic hares are actually larger and more athletic than rabbits, but they look more like decorative throw pillows when they’re resting. They have shorter ears than most hares to conserve heat, and they love to dig shelters in the snow to snuggle with other hares. They can weigh up to 15 pounds, so they’re basically like Arctic lapdogs.

2. Ermine

mlharing / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 15/10

Can kill you factor: 0/10

Ermines, members of the weasel family, are like ferrets, only cuter. They’re dark brown in summer, but they turn white in winter, showing off their adorable, round black eyes and sweet whiskers. They mostly snack on small rodents, but they’ll settle for birds, fish, frogs, eggs and even insects in a pinch. If they weren’t so smelly (ermines are known for producing a strong, musky scent to mark their territory), we’d want to keep one as a pet.

1. Arctic Fox

Maryna Rayimova / Getty Images

Cuteness factor: 25/10

Can kill you factor: 3/10

The Arctic fox tops our list as the cutest Arctic animal. They’re playful and curious, like a combination between a dog and a cat. Their thick fur helps them maintain their body temperature, and their compact features help, too.

Their short muzzles and rounded ears definitely up the cuteness factor, but these adaptations make them seriously tough. In fact, Arctic foxes can tolerate temperatures as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit (or -70 degrees Celsius). They also mate for life and live in elaborate tunnel systems. So. Cool.

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