Facts about polar bears

Top 5 Facts About Polar Bears

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You see them on post cards, television commercials, and calendars. They are sometimes the main attraction at the zoo. They are associated with cold, snowy climates. Their thick white fur makes them fuzzy and cuddly and altogether beautiful creatures.

Polar bears are an Arctic mammal and a member of the bear family. Scientifically known as the Ursus maritimus, the polar bear is known for its thick white, or off-white, fur and its ability to survive in the coldest of climates. The polar bear is a semi-aquatic animal and depends on ice and marine animals for nutrition. While polar bears are popular animals, here are five facts about them that may or may not be so commonly known.

First of all, we are aware of the polar bear’s thick fur covering used to help it brave the cold; however fur is not the only tool the polar bear uses in its survival. Underneath all that fur is black skin with a layer of thick blubber beneath to help in insulation. In addition to this, polar bears have small tails [i swear polar bears have tail! Hunnie, you lose. LOL] and undersized ears which help reduce the loss of heat. The white fur, which can yellow as the polar bear ages, is also used to camouflage the polar bear from its potential meal.

Second, polar bears- whose males can grow to weigh over a thousand pounds and over eight feet long, and whose females can grow to weigh over six hundred pounds and up to seven feet long- are one of the world’s largest living meat eaters. This is a drastic change from the pound to pound and a half polar bear cubs weigh when they are born. Over the past few decades, scientists have noticed a drop in polar bear weights, posing some cause for concern.

Third, polar bears are polygamous animals with their coupling only lasting for the duration of a couple of months during spring. Although polar bears mate between March and May, a fertilized egg goes through a delayed implantation which does not take place until approximately six month later. Gestation begins at fertilization and is completed a couple of months after the egg is implanted, when birth takes place. The entire gestation period of a polar bear is roughly eight months. A female polar bear can give birth to as many as four cubs at a time, although two is the usual amount.

Fourth, polar bears are extremely carnivorous animals, and in fact are the most carnivorous bear in existence. Mostly feeding on seals, a polar bear will also eat walruses, birds, shellfish, and any animal it can kill. Though rare, polar bears have been known to eat humans and even other polar bears. An aggressive and exceptionally large animal, polar bears are a grave danger to humans. Polar bears have not adapted to people as well as other bears have and will pursue any animal they deem edible. Their deceptively gentle appearance can prove deadly to the uninformed human being. While having a long list of animals on its prey list, the polar bear is near the top of the food chain with its only known predators being Orcas, humans, and other polar bears.

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