Endangered Species: Human Causes Commercial forestry and land clearing Construction of roads, buildings, powerlines, & pipelines Draining wetlands Overgrazing Soil, air, and water contamination Disturbances from mining, and oil/gas exploration Disruption of anmal migration patterns Illegal hunting & overharvesting (also, net entanglement) Climate change Acid precipitation Sales of animal parts Introduction of foreign & invasive species Did you know? Untanned polar bear pelts can sell for $500-$3000 (US) depending on their size and quality. The annual economic value of the polar bear hunt in Canada is about $1 million. Polar bears are also highly valued as display animals in zoos and are one of the central attractions of the famous Moscow circus. Due to the collapse of the Russian economy, there has been a marked decrease in enforcement and poaching is becoming a serious threat.

Endangered Species

Despite its harsh climate, the Arctic has a rich variety of endemic plant and animal species. Many species are genetically unique, having developed specialized adaptations to allow survival and reproduction in the frigid environment. During the summer months, numerous migratory animals seek out ample Arctic feeding grounds and choice breeding locations. At sea, marine mammals feast in the nutrient-rich waters of the Polar Front, where warm Atlantic currents mix with the the cold Arctic waters. And yet, Arctic species are considered highly vulnerable to human disturbances. Commercial exploitation, carelessness, and encroaching development have all taken a toll on Arctic wildlife. Included among the list of endangered or threatened Arctic species are: wolves, caribou, musk oxen, polar bears, seals, sealions, walruses, whales and several species of migratory seabirds and fish.

Several human factors combine to put Arctic species at risk. Clearing land for farms and towns, lumbering, building dams, and draining wetlands all alter the Arctic environment so extensively that ecosystems may be completely destroyed. With a burgeoning human population requiring food, shelter, and clothing and constantly demanding more energy-using devices, the temptation to exploit land and resources for human use without regard for consequences is great. Even subtle changes to living conditions can have dramatic consequences. Ozone depletion, climate change, noise pollution, and soil acidification all contribute to added stress on Arctic species.

Arctic marine ecosystems have suffered severely from commercial overharvesting practices. Whaling and sealing in the 19th century decimated whole populations, many of which have yet to fully recover. Arctic fish stocks are declining all over the region. Pressure to cash in on dwindling stocks is resulting in catches of immature fish and reducing populations further.

On land, polar bears are still taken illegally in some sections of their Arctic range despite international protection. Slow to mature and with relatively few young, polar bears are particularly vulnerable to disturbances. Caribou herds on the north slope of the Alaskan coastal plain are being threatened by oil development which hinders their seasonal movement across the tundra. Arctic birds suffer from habitat loss when development leads to drainage of wetlands. Construction noise, entanglement in fishing nets, and reduced fish populations result in further losses..

Though the threats are many, Arctic wildlife can be preserved through knowledge, awareness, cooperation and appreciation of their importance in the global environment.