The polar bear is a beautiful and almost mythical creature. Its existence in the wild has only been admired by those brave enough to face the unforgiving Arctic conditions. Its enormous size and incredible strength are unmatched by any land mammal, putting them at the top of the food chain. The polar bear truly is the king of sea ice and the Arctic’s top predator.
1. Polar Bears: One of Eight Bear Species
The polar bear is one of eight species in the bear family Ursidae. Its Latin name Ursus maritimus means “sea bear.” They live in the Arctic, where they roam the sea ice in search of seals. It may surprise you that the polar bear is the only carnivorous bear species. Other bear species, even the dangerous grizzly bear, are considered omnivores, and 80% of their diet is plant or fruit-based. A polar bear’s food source consists mostly of seals.
The polar bear is the largest carnivorous land mammal and the largest species of bear. A fully grown male can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and stand almost 10 feet tall on its hind legs! Females are smaller, weighing around 500 pounds and standing eight feet tall.
Polar bears are a cute but vicious deadly predator. But don’t worry: they’ve injured (and killed) less than 100 people since the first recorded incident in 1870.
2. Polar Bears Don’t Have Territories
Polar bears live solely among the Arctic sea ice in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Greenland. There are 19 sub-populations of polar bears spread among these nations, with 13 existing in Canada.
Polar bears do not have territories. They have what is called a “home range.” A home range is where an animal can find food and water and fulfill its life requirements. The sea ice is ever-changing, which means a polar bear’s home range is more widespread than any other bear species. Their home range depends on the sea ice quality and the available food source. A large home range for a polar bear can cover over 130,000 square miles in a year!
Unfortunately, because of climate change, polar bears are losing their homes. You can help protect wildlife by donating to reputable organizations that focus on saving polar bears, along with making some environmentally friendly choices in your daily life.
3. Polar Bears Hunt and Eat Seals
A polar bear’s diet consists mainly of seals. They feed on bearded, harp, hooded, and harbor seals, but the ringed seal is their most common prey. Polar bears use a method called “still hunting,” where they wait perfectly still on the sea ice, waiting for a seal to surface. A polar bear will use its hearing and scent to locate seal breathing holes. It will be motionless for several hours as they wait for a seal to surface! They will also jump out of the water onto the sea ice to grab an unsuspecting seal.
Polar bears spend about 50% of their time hunting, and only two out of ten seal hunts are successful. If no seals can be found, these apex predators will eat anything they can get, including rodents, seabirds, fish, and eggs. They will scavenge and fight over animal carcasses and garbage. Larger polar bears will hunt walruses, narwhals, and beluga whales.
4. Polar Bears Have Adapted to Arctic Life
These enormous bears have efficiently adapted for life in the Arctic. Their white fur helps them blend into their stark white surroundings, giving them the camouflage they need to be successful hunters. Interestingly, a polar bear’s skin is black, and its hairs are hollow with no white pigment. Their thick, water-repellant fur keeps them comfortably insulated from below-zero temperatures. Under its warm double-layered coat, a polar bear has a thick layer of fat to protect it further. This fat layer can be five inches thick! Due to these unique adaptions, the polar bear stays comfortably warm even in temperatures that drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit!
A polar bear’s gigantic paws are essential for its success in the unforgiving Arctic. Its paws measure almost twelve inches across! These large paws help the polar bear walk on ice without falling through, acting as snowshoes. Another benefit of oversized paws is that they help propel the polar bear through the water. Sometimes they must swim for miles to get from one patch of ice to another.
Large paws are essential for a polar bear’s everyday life, but its claws are equally vital. Their claws measure about two inches, relatively short to their paw size, but they are sharp and powerful. Having short, sharp claws helps to keep them from slipping on the ice. These powerful claws are also crucial for catching and holding slippery marine prey.
5. Polar Bears Don’t Really Hibernate
Polar bears and all other bear species don’t truly hibernate. They enter a state of physical inactivity called “torpor,” where their heart rate, respiratory rate, and metabolism drop but not as much as true hibernators do. Experts call a bear’s hibernation a torpor or denning.
Only female polar bears enter torpor from around October to April. During this time, they won’t eat or drink and will survive off the weight and energy stores they built before entering their den. They will also give birth during their torpor, and their cubs will remain by her side, gaining the strength to leave in the den in the spring.
