Íslenska
Wildlife & Animals in Iceland
Much of Iceland`s rich wildlife today has not been around for long. In fact, only very few animals are native to the island. The rest were imported by the first settlers about 1100 years ago.
When driving through Iceland you are sure to see one of these animals – even during the harsh winters here. The wildlife in Iceland tends to be harmless, however, please remember to keep a safe distance and never feed them or approach them. Especially when they have babies close by!
Now, without further ado – the wildlife and animals in Iceland!
Sheep
The first settlers from Norway brought sheep to Iceland because of their meat and their special wool (check out our blog about The Iconic Lopapeysa– an Icelandic must-have item?). In fact, almost all traditional Icelandic food feature sheep meat such as the lamb soup. People say that the reason why the Icelandic sheep is so delicious is rather morbid. The sheep are allowed to run around freely, feeding on Icelandic thyme and hence flavouring their meat while still alive …
Even though the animals are not the most interesting inhabitants of the island, they have contributed enormously to Iceland’s growth and industrialization. Many Icelanders became wealthy because of sheep products especially during times when European countries were engaged in wars.
In September the animals are rounded up again to be either sheltered from the coming harsh winter or slaughtered.
Icelandic dog
With 800,000 sheep it is almost natural that there are also sheepdogs. The Icelandic sheepdog, like most other mammals on the island, was imported and originated from Nordic breeds. Farmers use dogs to herd and guard their property. After almost becoming extinct in the late 19th century there was a temporary ban on the import of other dog breeds until modern veterinary medicine could ensure that the Icelandic sheepdog population had recovered and will stay protected from diseases.
Like other sheepdog breeds, the Icelandic sheepdog is known for its high energy levels, resilience, agility and friendliness. They make great companions when one takes the time to give them enough exercise and time.
Icelandic horse
After the sheep, the Icelandic horse is the second most common sight. This is another mammal that has been imported from Norway. Due to the limited space on the ships, the Vikings decided to bring along only the smaller yet strong horses. This has led to the horse breed being almost the same size as ponies – however, we recommend that you don’t call them ponies in the presence of an Icelander unless you are prepared for a serious discussion about why the Icelandic horse is not a pony. Icelanders take this topic very to heart.
In the past, the Icelandic horse enabled its owner to become wealthy by transporting them to various trading posts throughout the country. Nowadays, this horse breed is mainly used for equestrian sports and is moreover, the single only horse breed in Iceland.
If you haven’t read our blog about what makes the Icelandic horse so unique, you should definitely check it out.
Arctic fox
The Arctic fox is the only land mammal in Iceland that was not imported by settlers.
Life, however, it has not been the easiest for these foxes since the first Vikings arrived as besides having to suffer through Iceland`s harsh winters, humans started hunting them for their furs (priceless today) and because the foxes went after farmers stock animals. Despite these struggles, this mammal has succeeded in adapting to nature. Moreover, since 1994 they have been protected in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve (Northern Iceland).
The foxes can be found all over the island, however, you are most likely to spot one in the West. During winter their fur turns completely snow-white and when summer approaches it becomes more brownish. There is also a type of Arctic foxes that are blue which do not change their coat. It simply becomes lighter throughout summer.
Reindeer
The reindeer is another animal that can be found in Iceland. It belongs to the species of deer and both genders grow antlers which are cast-off every year. They were first imported from Northern Norway in the 18th century. It actually took several attempts for the first settlers to succeed in building a reindeer stock due to the unusually harsh weather and limited food supply.
1939 many believed that this breed had gone extinct. It took a lot of effort to finally discover that about 100 specimens survived in East Iceland and with time this number rose up to 7000. Icelanders let the population become wild and the breed has well adapted to the cold weather. Nowadays, East Iceland is known as Reindeerland. When driving along the east coast it is almost impossible to not spot one of these mammals.
Whale
Over the years Iceland has established as one of the best places to do whale watching. In fact, Iceland has 23 whale species off the coast with sizes ranges from 2 meters to 30 meters. The most common types are the Blue whale, which by the way is the biggest mammal on earth with its 30 meters and 190 tons (!) and can live up to 110 years, Minke whale, Fin whale, Humpback whale, Orcas/Killer whale, White-beaked whale and Sperm whale. Numerous tourists already had the pleasure to see them up close in their natural habitat during one of the many whale-watching tours taking place all over the country.
The whale watching companies in Iceland follow strict guideline and code of conducts in accordance to IceWhale in regard to how they approach and observe the animals. This ensures a minimising of the impact on the whales and the best possible encounter for everyone.
Whale watching can be done from Reykjavik all year round. However, the best time to observe these gentle giants is during the summer season (April – October) as that is when they are the most active, feeding and breeding. In the wintertime, you can see orcas in the West. Snæfellsnes has been deemed the best place for orca watching and with the amazing view on Kirkjufell (the most famous mountain in Iceland) in the background, this will surely provide a unique experience.
For those who fear the seas, there are also big whale museums aimed at educating visitors about their lifestyle and habitat in Húsavík and in Reykjavik. The Húsavík Whale Museum even exhibits a 25-meter long skeleton of a blue whale.
Whale watching should be on your top 10 things-to-do-list in Iceland, check out our blog to see what else you can do 🙂
Seal
Iceland is the permanent home to two species of seals – the harbour seal (the more common one in Iceland) and the grey seal. In fact, seals are one of the most popular coastal animals in Iceland.
They are very common on the beaches and the Glacier Lagoon. There are several curious seals sometimes either just lying on the drifting ice and observing the visitors or swimming in the lagoon. The playful seals are hard to spot though, so keep your eyes open.
There are also several seal watching tours via boats offered in Iceland. Similar to whale watching, the companies offering these tours have to follow strict guidelines such as only moving slowly and keeping the engine as quiet as possible.
Likewise, there is an award-winning seal museum located right on the harbour of Hvammstangi. With the aim to educate visitors, it exhibits information on the different types of seals that can be found worldwide, how these animals are connected to the Icelandic culture and traditions and interesting facts such as a seal’s body language or how much it eats per day.
Moreover, it introduces visitors to other wildlife that can be found in the close area around Hvammstangi.
Atlantic Puffin
This seabird is only about 26-29 cm long and usually weighs less than 500 grams. About 60% of the population has its breeding grounds in Iceland, making our country the perfect place to observe them in their natural habitat. The Atlantic Puffin is so special because of its colourful and flat-sided beak. Although, its appearance kind of resembles that of a penguin, the two species are not closely related.
The only time to observe them is April to September which is when their breeding season is. The rest of the time they are at sea.
Likewise, there are strict guidelines for bird watchers in Iceland. This ensures minimum disruption of nature. Bird watchers and photographers are asked to stay on the marked paths and only approach them quietly and slowly. It is also prohibited to touch or feed these seabirds. However, the Atlantic Puffin is a very friendly animal and lets people come quite close.
The Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), where hunting these seabirds is restricted, are known as the home of the vibrant Puffin. It has the largest Puffin colony in the world. You can reach the island with a ferry (duration of 30 minutes). Látrabjarg, Dyrhólaey, Tjörnes and many other locations also have some puffin colonies. If you want to do go on a Puffin watching tour near the coast of Reykjavik, we recommend taking a ferry to Lundey (translated to “Puffin Island”) or Akurey which are two small islands just a few minutes from the harbour. Around the east coast, the island Papey (Friars’ Island) is well known for its large Puffin colony and the fjord Borgafjördur provides further great Puffin watching opportunities.
Raven
Iceland has a rather strong connection to this bird breed. According to an Icelandic Saga about the first settlement, the Norseman Flóki was the first to deliberately visit Iceland. He brought along three ravens to find his way to the island. Whenever he released one and that bird returned, he knew that land was still far away. Using this method, he managed to arrive in Iceland despite wild waves and storms.
Ravens are still very present in Icelandic art and crafts and unlike in other cultures, Ravens are not purely considered bad omens.
It is believed that there are 12,000-15,000 ravens in Iceland during autumn.
Ravens are very playful animals. You might see them standing on cans and sliding across frozen lakes or sliding down rooftops, just for the fun of it. Farm dogs and eagles are popular victims of bored ravens who find teasing other animals extremely amusing.
Moreover, ravens are the main characters in folk songs and two VERY popular children songs in Iceland. So, from a young age kids are already obsessed with these birds. It is in fact so popular, that a hotel in Reykjavik provides music boxes in its rooms playing one of these songs and guests can also purchase the music boxes at the reception.