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Animals in Russia
Polar Bears
Among Russia's largest animal inhabitants are its majestic polar bears. Polar
bears are perfectly suited to life in the region's frigid climate. They are equipped
with thick, white, water-repellant coats that act as camouflage against the snow.
They also have a thick lining of body fat to shield them from the cold. Polar bears
can weigh between 900 and 1,600 pounds. Despite their size, polar bears are
accomplished swimmers. They sit at the top of the region's food chain, scouring
the arctic ice edges for their customary prey of seals, fish and small whales.
Wolves and Foxes
Wolves and foxes also wander throughout the Russian wilderness. The Eurasian
arctic wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf. They can reach seven feet in length
and weigh more than 100 pounds. The Eurasian arctic wolf has a dense
undercoat to insulate it from the cold. Their coat ranges in color, with
combinations of gray, silver, black, white and rust. These wolves are social
creatures that live in packs. They are also very skilled hunters that cooperate to
hunt bison, sheep, caribou, deer and moose. The arctic fox is also well adapted to
Russia's harsh climate. They have thick, white coats that provide camouflage and
warmth. Their usual prey includes hares, birds and lemmings. When food is
scarce however, they will often scavenge the scraps from a polar bear's kill.
Big Cats
Several big cat species also stalk the landscapes of Russia. The elusive snow
leopard occupies the country's mountainous regions. They weigh between 60 and
120 pounds and measure four to five feet in length. Snow leopards are amazing
jumpers, able to leap distances of up to fifty feet. They have long, thick tails that
they use for balance and thick, dense coats that keep their bodies insulated.
Large, padded feet help them to maneuver easily on the snow as they skillfully
search for prey that includes birds, hares, sheep and ibex. Siberian tigers roam
the birch forests of eastern Russia. At 660 pounds and 10 feet in length, Siberian
tigers are the largest cats in the world. Striped coats help the tigers to blend in
with the surrounding landscape. Siberian tigers are solitary animals that live on a
diet primarily of elk and wild boar.