Approximate worldwide winter distribution of polar bears light gray. Polar bears are distributed throughout most ice-covered seas of the Northern Hemisphere. They can be found in the Artic, the U. Each of these countries either banned hunting or established rules for how many polar bears could be hunted within its own boundaries.
These rules help keep polar bear populations stable. Today, 25, to 40, polar bears roam the Arctic. See KidZone Bibliography for more information. Around the age of four or five the female polar bear can start having babies.
They usually only have two cubs and they have these babies in a cave they've dug in a large snow drift. They stay there over winter and come out in spring with the babies. The babies are much smaller than human babies when they're born. They are the size of a rat and weigh little more than a pound. They can grow to full man size in a year if they have lots of food.
Male polar bears may grow 10 feet tall and weigh over pounds. Females reach seven feet and weigh pounds. In the wild polar bears live up to age Despite what we think, a polar bear's fur is not white. Each hair is a clear hollow tube. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed. Some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land—though they probably cover most of that distance by floating on sheets of ice.
Polar bears live in one of the planet's coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur, which covers a warming layer of fat. Fur even grows on the bottom of their paws, which protects against cold surfaces and provides a good grip on ice.
The bear's stark white coat provides camouflage in surrounding snow and ice. But under their fur, polar bears have black skin—the better to soak in the sun's warming rays.
These powerful predators typically prey on seals. In search of this quarry they frequent areas of shifting, cracking ice where seals may surface to breathe air. They also stalk ice edges and breathing holes. If the opportunity presents itself, polar bears will also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. These Arctic giants are the masters of their environment and have no natural enemies. Females den by digging into deep snow drifts, which provide protection and insulation from the Arctic elements.
They give birth in winter, usually to twins. Young cubs live with their mothers for some 28 months to learn the survival skills of the far north. Females aggressively protect their young, but receive no help from their solitary male mates. In fact, male polar bears may even kill young of their species. Polar bears are attractive and appealing, but they are powerful predators that do not typically fear humans, which can make them dangerous.
Near human settlements, they often acquire a taste for garbage, bringing bears and humans into perilous proximity.
All rights reserved. Is climate change affecting their population? Thick, curved, sharp, and strong—each measures more than 5 cm 1. Polar bears use their claws to catch and hold slippery seal prey and to gain traction on ice. Polar bear ears are small and round, and their tails short and compact, to prevent heat loss and conserve the most warmth possible. Adult males normally weigh km , lb. Adult females are usually km lb.
But some can be larger. Researchers in Canada estimated one male bear at km 1, lb! Polar bears are also tall. Scientists usually measure their height at the shoulder when on all fours. Those heights are typically An adult male may reach over 3 m 10 ft when standing on its hind legs. Join us in our efforts to encourage leaders to make a swift transition away from fossil fuels and to renewable energy sources, by spreading awareness about the real and pressing threat of climate warming.
Conservation Concerns. Living with Polar Bears. Discover Polar Bears. Popular Polar Bear Tracker. Endangered Status. Our Impact. Our Team.
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