Their fur is thicker than the other bears’ and covers even their feet for heat and traction on ice. Since they have two thick layers of fur and a thick layer of body fat, they have more of a chance of overheating—especially when they run—than they do of freezing, according to Polar Bears International. Here are 10 fun facts about the great ice bears! They ask to share food by touching noses. According to Lisa Kemmerer's book, Bear Necessities, polar bears have the ability to store nearly 150 pounds of food in their stomachs and can enter a "metabolic state similar to that of hibernation" at any point of the year. These animals are abundant in fat, which is necessary for polar bears to consume to build its bulk and keep warm. CONTACT US 14. © 2020 Galvanized Media. Polar bears can weigh more than 1300 pounds and span more than 8 feet, 6 inches from nose to tail, making them the largest carnivores to currently walk the … This fantastic PowerPoint will teach you a whole bunch of facts about polar bears and some fun polar bear habitat facts. Interested in one of our trips? Polar bears live in the Arctic which is near the North Pole. Seals make up most of a polar bears diet. Although stereotyped as being voraciously aggressive, they are normally cautious in confrontations, and often choose to escape rathe… Polar Bears Are Patient Hunters. A young polar bear on the shores of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada in November waiting for the sea ice to … More fun polar bear facts. Polar bears live alone. They live in very cold climates which is why they have thick, white fur to keep them warm. The polar bear may be the largest land carnivore and a cunning, dangerous and fearless hunter but those qualities aside it is a popular and much-loved animal. Keep reading for more amazing polar bear facts that you won't believe. Polar bears can reach speeds of up to 40km per hour (25 mph) on land. Climate change is causing sea-ice to melt earlier and forming later each year, which means that polar bears have less time to hunt on top of the sea-ice. We love all things polar – and bears are no exception! Polar bears are marine mammals, and pay a lot of their time on Arctic Ocean ice. The polar bear’s binomial name is Ursus maritimus. 1. Their habitat in Canada ranges from James Bay in the south to Ellesmere Island in the north, and east to west from Labrador to the Alaskan border. So to find them you will have to go to Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Norway. Such claws assist in digging. | In fact, pregnant polar bears can actually go without food or water for four to eight months, as they retreat to their den to protect their soon-to-be-born. In fact it is not actually white—it only appears to be. 2) These are seriously big bears, gang. Only pregnant polar bears stay in a den for months at a time to protect, give birth, and nurse their cubs. But outside of these cold temperatures polar bears have a problem of overheating . Adult bears weigh as much as 772–1,543 pounds. All Rights Reserved. On average, their heights are an incredible 8.5 feet (males) and 6.5 feet (females). But the largest polar bear ever recorded weighed in at 2,210 pounds—which is more than a metric ton. What's the longest polar bear swim of all time? Live smarter, look better,​ and live your life to the absolute fullest. In 2006, an American hunter set out into the Arctic, hoping to bag himself a polar bear. Polar bears are generally found in frozen wild parts of the Arctic. The bears rely on this sea-ice as a platform to hunt sea prey like seals that come onto the ice and give the bear the advantage. But, it turns out, they've actually also adapted to mate with grizzly bears. And what its nonsense lyrics actually mean. The Environmental News Network reports that polar bears regularly swim distances of 30 miles at a time. Polar bears can sniff out seals – their main food – from up to 1 km (0.6 miles) away and even under 1m (3 ft) of snow. Polar bears are the world's largest terrestrial carnivore. 15. Polar bears can live to be 25 years old when they live in the wild. The white coat goes yellow with age. Male polar bears weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (770 to 1,435 lb) and are about 2.5 to 3 m (8.2 to 9.8 ft) long. LEGAL Polar bears are classified as marine mammals. Polar bears are known as the "apex predators" of the Arctic, which means they are the top predator and have no natural animal predators that seek them as prey. They use their large front paws to propel themselves through the water and their back legs to steer. Polar bears like to keep themselves clean. Adult females usually only weigh about half as much as males. Only pregnant polar bears stay in a den for months at a time to protect, give birth, and nurse their cubs. A polar bear's coat is made up of two unique layers: The shorter coat provides insulation from weather, while the longer coat prevents water from reaching the short coat layer and skin.. Each layer serves a unique purpose and allows bears to thrive in frigid conditions. Polar bears appear white in color but they are not so. They tend to transmit their intentions through body language or posturing. They are the largest land carnivores on the planet, rivaled only by the Kodiak brown bears that are found in the southwestern portion of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia.. These stars have something to celebrate in 2021. GET OUR BROCHURE According to National Geographic, one female polar bear swam for a "record-breaking nine days straight," traveling a distance of 426 miles. Because polar bears spend most of their life in the water, they’re considered a marine mammal. Males weigh 849 to 904 pounds while females averaging 331–551 pounds. When you think about bears, you often think about the hibernation they go into during the winter. 1. These bears often hunt with little success. That’s around 1,764 lb (800 kg). If you think sharks are murderous, you haven't met a "deathstalker.". Don't worry, they look white to us, too. After feeding they usually wash by taking a swim or rolling in the snow . Polar bears have always been icons of the Arctic, and one of the most popular animals that guests want to see on our trips – they’re one of our favourites too. If it seems like polar bears never look as clumsy or uncomfortable walking on the snow as humans or other less-equipped animals often do, it's because they have a built-in advantage. Or how about the fact that they're not actually white? Ten polar bear facts. 1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway. But according to Polar Bears International, they typically give birth in pairs of two, which means twin polar bears are not uncommon. While they may go for a swim as a way to bathe in the summer,  in the winter, when things are frozen, they clean their fur by rolling around in the snow. Their favorite prey is usually ringed or bearded seals. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these cold-climate creatures. The only bear that could possibly rival the polar bear in size is the brown bear, otherwise known as the Kodiak bear. This is one of the fun polar bear facts for kids: polar bears don’t like to eat their vegetables! Click here to learn 10 fun facts about polar bears. If you've been feeling out of it, you might have had COVID. While most humans can barely last an hour in the water, polar bears can swim for days at a time. Polar bears are also excellent swimmers and can comfortably swim around 10 km per hour (6mph). Polar bears reside mostly amongst the circumpolar regions of Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia. It's estimated that they can smell a seal on the ice from up to 20 miles away. They have an outstanding sense of smell. Polar Bear Facts: 11-15 | Appearance. Polar bears are black with clear fur, so in daylight, they appear white; at night, they are invisible. Pregnant females can weigh as much as 500 kg (1,100 lb). They roll in the snow to clean themselves. | According to the Utah Hogle Zoo, polar bears take cleanliness very seriously because anywhere that dirt ends up is a place that "cold air or water can reach their skin." Another one of the interesting polar bear facts about fur is … So, we only see white because when sunlight hits their fur, the air spaces between each hair scatter the light of all other colors. Interesting Facts About Polar Bears. Today I want to write about polar bears because they are a powerful creature with very cute cubs. If you wanted some of your friend's food, you would probably just ask them if they wouldn't mind sharing. These creatures don't look a day over 200,000,000. LEGAL Though they are adapt to survive Arctic temperatures, which can dip below -50°C, they can also overheat. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest terrestrial carnivore in the world, rivaled in size only by the Kodiak bear.Polar bears play an important role in the life and culture of the Arctic Circle. Polar bears (or Ursus Maritimus – to give them their posh Latin name) can be found pretty much anywhere inside the Arctic Circle – Canada, Russia, Greenland etc, and are the largest living land carnivore with males coming in at 400-600kg and females at 200-300kg. Polar bears have black skin and although their fur appears white, it is actually transparent. 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