HAPPY INTERNATIONAL POLAR BEAR DAY!
Do you have your coat on for this Mammal Monday? Well, if you don’t you better grab it because all this week we are heading to the chilly arctic circle! In honor of the holiday and the fat guy who lives at the North Pole, we’ve decide to spotlight animals who live there too! First up, a large and in charge bear! Are you all bundled up? Let’s go! (This post was originally posted on Dec 19th as Mammal Monday #19)
MEET THE POLAR BEAR!
Range/Habitat: Arctic/ice, shoreline
Diet: Carnivore: seals, carrion
Length/Weight: 7-11ft/800- 1500lb
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (In Canada)
Fun Facts:
- Polar bears are the largest members of the bear family and the largest land carnivore on earth.
- They have two coats of fur, an outer translucent coat that absorbs the sun’s heat and a dense undercoat.
- Polar bears have black skin that helps them absorb heat.
- They also have a thick layer of blubber to help them stay warm.
- Polar bears have rough pads on their paws that help prevent them from slipping and sliding on the ice.
- They are excellent swimmers and are often seen in open waters.
- They use their large front paws to swim.
- Polar bears can smell a seal from a half mile away.
- Female polar bears dig dens in winter and stay there to give birth to 1 to 3 cubs.
- Polar bear cubs stay with their moms until around the age of 2. They spend that time learning to hunt and be polar bears!
Polar bears are amazing animals! They are built to live in the cold arctic! These large and in-charge bears are a protected species! We hope to have them around for a very long time!
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 
Hi guys!
As always, great work! I also hope that polar bears (and all less-than-stable species) are around for us to enjoy for a long time. I do have one question though, you said polar bears are vulnerable in Canada; does this mean they are abundant and stable everywhere else??
Polar bear’s status’ are confusing right now. They’re considered a species of special concern in Russia & parts of Canada and Near Threatened in the US. Without research it is hard to determine a their population numbers. Even the IUCN (the International Body that regulates animal’s conservations status- have them listed as a specialist group). Hope that helps clarify it a bit :)!
Lol. It’s crazy but I get it now. Thanks so much for the info!! 🙂