Image from: http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators/library/
Common Name: Polar Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus Maritimus
Status: Vulnerable
The Polar Bear is a fascinating animal with incredible characteristics and an amazing way of life. Its home is the remaining pack ice covering the oceans of the Arctic Circle. Everyday, there is less and less of this ice, meaning less space for the polar bear to live, since it is always much more difficult to survive. This species is highly endangered due to many of its threats and now it is our job to help. We must reduce our impact on the Earth to help save this wonderful species and its ecosystem!
Behaviour
Other than during mating season or a female with cubs, polar bears are mostly solitary. However, adult males have been seen playing for hours and it is common to see cubs or young males play fighting. These bears communicate using a series of bellows, roars, growls, chuffs and purrs.
Polar Bears are talented animals with unique behaviours. They are not territorial and although they are usually known to be vicious, would rather escape than fight. Only a hungry polar bear would kill a person for food. These bears are also excellent swimmers and have an incredible sense of smell.
Habitat
Polar Bears live mainly in the Arctic Circle, but also in some surrounding regions. They are found in Greenland, Norway, Russia, USA (Alaska) and Canada. Polar bears prefer to live on the pack ice covering the waters of the Arctic Ocean. They are rarely known to live near the North Pole and would much rather live on the coast where seals are often available. Polar bears have trouble living in the Summer months, since the sea ice often melts and they need ice to survive for living, hunting and breeding. During this time they are forced to swim farther inland to the frozen ground or live on land. They are often considered a marine mammal since they spend most of their life swimming in the sea to find ice.
Diet
A polar bear’s diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals, although many other animals are occasionally eaten. Polar bears catch seals and whales using a method called “still hunting”. The bear first uses its senses to locate a breathing hole where a seal may come up to breathe or rest. It then crouches by the hole, remaining very still. When a seal is sensed, the bear quickly grabs it with its paw and hits it on the head before eating it. The older polar bears eat mostly the calorie-rich blubber and seal skin, while younger polar bears eat the protein-rich red meat. They are able to eat 2kg per day and their stomach can hold 15-20% of their own body weight. Other than the ringed and bearded seal, polar bears eat harp seals, hooded seals, ribbon seals, walruses, narwhals, beluga whales, grey whales, bowhead whales, muskoxen, reindeer, small rodents, shellfish, fish, eggs, kelp, berries and unfortunately, human garbage.
Families
March through June is the Polar Bear mating season. During this time, males will locate females and often compete over them. Usually, the male will stay with his mate for one week before leaving to find another mate. From October to December, the female will dig a den in deep snow drifts for her cubs. She will remain in the den in a hibernate-like state where her heart race will decrease from 46 to 27 beats per minute, until her cubs are born in December to January. Polar Bear cubs are born blind with light down fur, weighing less than 0.9kg and are the size of a guinea pig. The mother will protect and teach her cubs for two years until they leave to live on their own.
Threats
The Polar Bear is recorded as a vulnerable species because its population is decreasing due to many threats. These threats include:
- Climate Change: Due to rising temperatures, the arctic sea ice is melting rapidly. Often, sea ice melts, forcing polar bears to swim long distances in the sea to find land. After swimming for hours, they get tired and drown in the water. Also, every year, polar bears have more trouble finding food, since the ice melts earlier every Spring and later every Fall, forcing them to move to places with less food.
- Hunting: Polar bears are often hunted by the native people for hides and blubber. Hunting decreases their population every time one is killed and is a problem that needs to be stopped.
- Pollution: Many toxic chemicals are transported from the south by the wind and water and are deposited on the ground where they are exposed to animals. Animals often attempt to eat these pollutants, causing them to get sick. The chemicals spread through the food chain as the larger animals eat the smaller ones who have eaten chemicals.
- Oil: Many oil operations are held in the arctic. These can pollute the ground and air, as well as risk the chance of a deadly oil spill.
These threats are dreadful, but we can help. It’s our job to save the Polar Bear!!!
Fun Facts
1. Polar Bears have transparent fur; it only looks white because of the reflection from the snow.
2. They have black skin to soak up the heat.
3. Polar Bears are the world’s largest land predators.
