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The Burgerbukta glacier in Svalbard
Photo: Gary Bembridge from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

Region · Norway

Svalbard Wildlife Checklist

Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the high Arctic, about halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. It is Europe's best place to see polar bears in the wild, along with walrus, Arctic foxes, Svalbard reindeer and huge seabird colonies under the midnight sun. This checklist covers 39 animals. June to August, the expedition cruise season, is best.

Most visitors fly to Longyearbyen and see wildlife from an expedition ship or a small boat. Since January 2025, stricter rules keep people further from polar bears, walrus and bird cliffs.

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The Svalbard checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
39
Where
Norway
Best time
Jun to Aug
Polar bear distance
300 m by law

Svalbard's Arctic wildlife

  • Polar Bear, one of the animals to look for in Svalbard

    Polar Bear

    Part of a Barents Sea population of around 3,000. In summer many follow the pack ice north and east, so cruises that circle Spitsbergen or reach the ice edge have the best chance.

    Photo: Arturo de Frias Marques, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Walrus, one of the animals to look for in Svalbard

    Walrus

    Hunted almost to extinction here and protected since 1952, they are now recovering. Haul-outs at Poolepynten and Torellneset are regular landing sites.

    Photo: AWeith, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Arctic Fox, one of the animals to look for in Svalbard

    Arctic Fox

    Seen around Longyearbyen and below bird cliffs, where it scavenges eggs and chicks. In summer most are in brown coats.

    Photo: Gary Bembridge from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

  • Reindeer

    The Svalbard reindeer is small, short-legged and found only here. It grazes the tundra, even inside Longyearbyen.

  • Little Auk

    Svalbard's most numerous bird, nesting in huge colonies in scree slopes. Listen for the chattering near Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund.

  • Brünnich's Guillemot

    Tens of thousands crowd the ledges at Alkefjellet in Hinlopen Strait, one of the great seabird sights of the Arctic.

  • Ivory Gull

    A pure white gull of the pack ice, and the bird most visiting birders hope for. Rare and declining.

  • Bearded Seal

    Look for this big, whiskered seal resting alone on floating ice in the fjords.

  • Beluga

    Pods move along glacier fronts and coasts in summer and are often spotted from ships in the fjords.

All 39 animals to spot in Svalbard

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Land mammals 3

Seals, whales and walrus 10

Seabirds 12

Ducks, geese and waders 12

Land birds 2

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Svalbard

Svalbard's wildlife season is short and bright. From about 20 April to 23 August the sun never sets in Longyearbyen. March to May is snowmobile season: the light returns, some fjords are still frozen, and polar bears hunt seals on the ice, but everyone must keep 500 m from bears until the end of June. June to August is expedition cruise season. The seabird cliffs are full, reindeer graze with calves, walrus haul out on beaches, and ships search for bears along the ice edge. By September the birds are leaving and the first snow falls. The polar night, from late October to mid-February, is dark and cold, and best for the northern lights.

  • Mar-MaySnowmobile season, light returns
  • Jun-AugCruises, midnight sun, bird cliffs
  • SepLast cruises, birds leaving
  • Oct-FebPolar night, northern lights

Tips for spotting wildlife in Svalbard

  1. Choose the right cruise

    Longer trips that try to circle Spitsbergen or reach the pack ice north of Nordaustlandet give more polar bear chances than short fjord cruises. Ice decides the route, so no one can promise a bear.

  2. Know the 2025 rules

    You must stay at least 300 m from polar bears (500 m from March to June) and 150 m from walrus haul-outs. Drones are banned within 500 m of bird cliffs from April to August.

  3. Never leave town without a guide

    Polar bears can appear anywhere, even near Longyearbyen. Outside the settlements you need protection against bears, so go with a licensed guide who carries it.

  4. Start birding in Longyearbyen

    Snow buntings sing from buildings, eiders and Arctic terns nest near the shore, and little auks call from the slopes above town. If terns dive at your head, you are too close to a nest, so back away.

  5. Dress for wind on deck

    Summer temperatures sit around 5 to 7°C, and wind on a zodiac makes it feel far colder. Waterproof trousers, gloves and a hat are essential.

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The Svalbard checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Svalbard wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in Svalbard?

In Svalbard you can see polar bears, walrus, Arctic foxes and Svalbard reindeer, plus bearded and ringed seals, belugas and several large whales. Birds include little auks, Brünnich's guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes, ivory gulls and king eiders. Reindeer, foxes and seabirds are almost certain on a summer trip; polar bears and whales take more luck.

When is the best time to see polar bears in Svalbard?

June to August is the best time to see polar bears in Svalbard, on expedition cruises that search the coasts and the edge of the pack ice. From March to May, snowmobile and boat trips can find bears on the fjord ice, but the legal viewing distance then is 500 m. No trip can guarantee a sighting.

Where can you see walrus in Svalbard?

Walrus are regularly seen at haul-outs such as Poolepynten on Prins Karls Forland and Torellneset on Nordaustlandet, both common landing sites on expedition cruises. They also haul out elsewhere on the north and east coasts. Visitors must stay at least 150 m from haul-outs, and boats must slow to 5 knots within 300 m.

What birds nest in Svalbard?

Around 30 bird species nest in Svalbard regularly, almost all of them summer visitors. The biggest colonies belong to little auks, Brünnich's guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars, with puffins, black guillemots, eiders and Arctic terns along the coasts. The Svalbard ptarmigan is the only bird that stays all winter.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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