The alpine and arctic tundra's resident animals must adapt around the seasons and the availability of food. Many animals that cannot adapt to the arctic and alpine tundra's extreme winter weather, migrate to the tundra during the spring and summer seasons each year.

Spring- and summer 'guests'
A variety of birds make the arctic tundra their top choice for nesting spots and food during the spring and summer seasons. Millions of ducks, loons, gulls, geese and sandpipers migrate from the South just for this purpose. An example of a migrating bird is the arctic tern. The arctic tern migrates from the Arctic to Antarctica and back all to enjoy the arctic tundra's summer. They travel more than 22,000 miles (36,000 km), a distance longer than any other migrating animal.

Of course there are other animals that come to the arctic tundra during the spring and summer seasons to take advantage of the agreeable weather and bountiful food. Animals like the caribou travel thousands of miles to graze on plants and raise their young. Other migrators include buffalo, wolf, bald eagles, gray falcons, ducks, gulls, geese, swans, waterfowl, and polar bears.