Quck answer
Polar bears are the largest land predators on Earth, with males weighing up to 1500 pounds. They are perfectly adapted to life in the Arctic, with thick fur, webbed feet, and a layer of blubber for insulation. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can dive to depths of up to 15 feet to catch their prey, usually seals. They have a keen sense of smell, which helps them locate food and navigate their environment. Despite being at the top of the food chain, polar bears are threatened by climate change, which is causing the Arctic ice to melt and making it harder for them to hunt and survive.
Wild Animals
Polar Bear’s Habitat: Surviving the Arctic
Two bears playing in Manitoba, Canada. George Lepp/Getty Images
The polar bear, also known as Ursus maritimus (sea bear), evolved from brown bears about 150,000 years ago [source: Live Science]. Interestingly, polar bears can mate with brown bears and their offspring are fertile, which suggests a close relationship between the two. However, brown bears outnumber polar bears, with over 200,000 worldwide [source: WWF]. Polar bears, on the other hand, only number around 23,000.
Polar bears are only found in the Northern Hemisphere and inhabit 19 separate populations throughout the Arctic, across five countries: the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The majority of the population, around 60 percent, lives in Canada.
Living in the Arctic presents many challenges: polar bears experience total darkness between October and February and endure temperatures as low as -50 F (-45 C) in winter [source: Polar Bears International]. Yet, this extreme cold is exactly what they need.
Polar bears are specially adapted to extreme cold. They lose almost no heat due to their two layers of fur and a blubber layer up to 4.5 inches (11.5 centimeters) thick, which keeps them so well insulated that they overheat if they run. Areas without this insulation, such as their ears, tail, and muzzle, are especially small, reducing non-insulated surface area.
Polar bears usually move slowly, following their favorite prey, the seal, from ice sheet to ice sheet. They rely on the ice to hunt. During warmer months when ice sheets shrink, the bears may walk hundreds of miles to find solid ice.
Polar bears can walk up to 20 miles (30 kilometers) per day for several days, using small bumps on the bottoms of their feet to prevent slipping on the ice. They also swim to cool off after a meal and to bridge the gap between ice sheets when following seals. Polar bears paddle with their front paws and steer with their hind legs. They only slightly submerge when swimming, and their nostrils close when submerged. Despite relying on the ice, polar bears are strong swimmers. They have been tracked swimming up to 60 miles (100 kilometers) at a time, at up to 6 miles per hour (10 kilometers per hour) [source: WWF].
Unlike other bears, polar bears do not hibernate. Females experience a sort of semi-hibernation at the end of their pregnancy, but they do not experience the drop in heart rate and body temperature characteristic of hibernation. They mostly rest and sleep a lot in the months before and after giving birth.
Unfortunately, polar bear populations are declining due to climate change and the way they hunt. At least five of the 19 polar bear populations are shrinking dramatically, with one area seeing reproduction rates of only 20 percent compared to two decades ago [source: NBC News].
This article provides information about the physical characteristics of a big bear, including the height and weight of adult males and females, as well as the length of their claws and lifespan. Adult males can reach heights of 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) while adult females are typically 6 to 8 feet (1.8-2.5 meters) tall. The weight of adult males ranges from 550 to 1500 pounds (250 to 680 kilograms) and adult females can weigh between 200 to 700 pounds (90 to 320 kilograms). Their claws can grow up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length. Typically, bears have a lifespan of up to 20 years, although there have been cases of bears living well into their 40s, such as the bear in a London zoo.
FAQ
1. What are polar bears?
Polar bears are large carnivorous mammals that inhabit the Arctic region. They are the largest land predators on earth and have adapted to living in the extreme cold of the Arctic. They have thick fur, a layer of fat under their skin and large paws that allow them to walk on ice and snow.
2. What do polar bears eat?
Polar bears are carnivores and mostly eat seals. They hunt for seals by waiting for them to come up for air at a breathing hole in the ice or by stalking them on the ice. They also eat fish, birds and other animals if they cannot find seals.
3. How do polar bears survive in the cold?
Polar bears have several adaptations that help them survive in the Arctic. They have a thick layer of fat under their skin that provides insulation and helps keep them warm. They also have a thick fur coat that helps them retain body heat. Their large paws act like snowshoes, distributing their weight so they can walk on ice and snow without sinking.
4. How are polar bears affected by climate change?
Polar bears are highly affected by climate change. The melting of sea ice due to rising temperatures is causing a loss of habitat and food sources for polar bears. As a result, many polar bears are starving or drowning as they have to swim longer distances to find food.
5. How do polar bears reproduce?
Polar bears mate in the spring and the female gives birth to one to three cubs in the winter den. The cubs are born helpless and depend on their mother for milk and warmth. The mother polar bear will stay in the den with her cubs until they are strong enough to venture out into the world.
6. How long do polar bears live?
Polar bears can live up to 30 years in the wild. However, many polar bears do not reach this age as they face many threats such as hunting, pollution and climate change.
7. Do polar bears hibernate?
Polar bears do not hibernate in the traditional sense. However, pregnant females will enter a state of torpor in their dens during the winter months when food is scarce. They will lower their metabolism and live off their fat reserves until the spring when they emerge from the den with their cubs.
8. Are polar bears endangered?
Yes, polar bears are considered a vulnerable species and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Their population is declining due to habitat loss, climate change and hunting.
9. What can be done to help protect polar bears?
There are several ways to help protect polar bears. One is to reduce our carbon footprint by using less energy and driving less. This can help slow down climate change and reduce the loss of sea ice. Another way is to support conservation efforts by donating to organizations that work to protect polar bears and their habitat.
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