Hairy encounter
Frank Reardon encountered this furry critter in Iqaluit on Sept. 8. He believes it’s Pyrrharctia isabella, commonly known as the woolly bear caterpillar. The species freezes solid during the winter months in its caterpillar form and later reanimates in the spring. Then it creates a cocoon and emerges as an isabella tiger moth. (Photo by Frank Reardon)
A wonderful shot, but I believe the caterpillar is a Gynaephora groenlandica, the larvae of the Arctic Woolly Bear Moth. The banded woolly bear, or Isabella tiger moth is generally found in the south. The Arctic Woolly Bear caterpillar relies on willows for its nutrition.
Not my first time seeing them, they are future brown/orange butterflies they exist too in North