Polar Bear

ANIMAL:
Polar Bear     Ursus maritimus

Type of Animal:
Bear

Habitat:
Pack ice, shores, sea ice, coastlines, islands, seas, tundra

Location(s):
High Arctic & coastlines around Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, Hudson Bay, James Bay, Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, & Arctic Ocean

Appearance:
Males larger & furrier than females, white-looking fur that’s actually transparent, small ears & tail, black nose.

Food/Diet:
Seals, carrion, refuse, beluga whales, walrus, orca calves, reindeer/caribou, muskox, waterfowl, seabirds, otters, fish, berries, kelp, roots, eggs, shellfish, rodents, crabs, humans

Status in Wild:
Threatened

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks

Lifestyle:
Solitary, though siblings that have just left mom will stay together for several months. Larger groups found at food sites & when pack ice forms.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male-Boar
Female-Sow
Young-Cub
Group-Sleuth

Weight:
Male-770-1,500 lbs
Female-330-550 lbs
Young-25 lbs

Gestation:
6.5 months

Height:
Male-8.5 ft
Female-6.5 ft

Body Length:
Male-7.9-9.8 ft
Female-5.9-7.9 ft

Life Span: 
20 years in wild, up to 40 years in captivity

Tail Length:
2.76-4.8 in, same for both sexes

Main predators of adults are orcas & Greenland sharks. Cubs preyed on by wolves & adult male polar bears.

Males will fight to the death during breeding season by biting & clawing at each other.

Largest land carnivores-in fact, twice as large as a male Siberian/Amur Tiger.

Most carnivorous of all bears.

Cubs stay w/ mom for 2-2.5 years.

Declining in wild due to melting ice, habitat loss, oil spills, pollution, & hunting for fur/sport/meat.

Also known as sea bears or ice bears.

When polar bears are born, they’re about the size of a stick of butter.

Unlike other bears, Polar Bears are not territorial.

Fur is oily & water-repellant.

Very keen sense of smell.

Fun Fact(s):
THEY’RE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CARNIVORES IN THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY’RE ONE OF THE FEW ANIMALS THAT WILL HABITUALLY HUNT HUMANS. THESE BEARS ARE MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL BEARS. MOTHERS W/ CUBS ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALSO WATCH OUT FOR FEEDING POLAR BEARS. HOWEVER, THEY’RE NOT THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BEARS & MANY INDIVIDUALS CAN BE RATHER MELLOW.

Have been known to produce fertile hybrids w/ brown bears called “Grolar Bears”.