50 interesting facts about polar bears. Interesting facts about polar bears 10 facts about polar bears
Many of us have known about the largest animals of the northern latitudes - polar bears - since childhood. Let's read additional interesting facts about polar bears.
Since the polar bear's paws are equipped with membranes, according to the classification it belongs to marine mammals.
The largest recorded polar bear weighed one ton. The size and weight of male and female polar bears vary greatly. Large males are almost twice as large and heavier than females, their length is up to 3 meters in length, and their weight reaches 800 kilograms.
These largest predators of the North are capable of swimming 150 kilometers at a speed of 10 km/hour.
Unlike their relatives, polar bears do not spend part of their time hibernating. The only exception is their pregnant females.
The habitat of polar bears is the coast and ice of the Arctic.
Speaking about interesting facts about polar bears, it is necessary to note the amazing sense of these animals. They are able to detect the smell of a seal in an ice hole at a distance of a kilometer, and a seal located on ice at a distance of 30 kilometers.
Polar bear hunting is successful only 2 percent of the time.
It is worth noting that the polar bear owes its decent life expectancy of 25 years to the lack of rivals. Of course, if you do not take into account the person.
The polar bear, which gives birth to 1 to 3 cubs at a time, bears them for 8 months. The babies are born in the den between November and December. And already at the end of March - beginning of April, the female and cubs get out of the den.
The weight of a newborn bear cub does not exceed a kilogram.
During a mother bear's hunt, the cubs wait for her in one place. Interestingly, polar bears mate between March and July, but the development of the fertilized egg begins only in September.
The Inuit people of Canada traditionally have great respect for the polar bear, calling it "nanook".
Polar bears are classified as carnivores, as their main menu includes fur seals and various fish.
Interestingly, polar bears can be called excellent builders - they build multi-room dens in the snow, even providing them with an exhaust hood.
Polar bears' ability to swim in icy water without their fur getting wet is due to the fact that it is covered in fat. This ensures its water-repellent property.
Polar bears' thick fur, lubricated with fat, retains heat so well that they are able to overheat even in low arctic temperatures. To prevent overheating, bears usually move slowly, allowing a long time to rest.
Polar bears are considered big clean people. These animals spend 15-20 minutes daily on hygiene procedures, while thoroughly cleaning themselves from any remaining dirt and food particles. This is very important for them, since contaminated bear fur loses its insulating properties.
Interesting video about a man and his pet... A polar bear!
Polar bears are amazing, snow-white giants that inhabit the coldest regions of the planet. But in order to expand your knowledge about these amazing animals, interesting facts are presented at your discretion.
Despite the fact that they are born and live on land, they spend a lot of time of their lives in the sea - from this feature they get their scientific name Ursus Maritimus translated as sea bear. 
The polar bear originates from the brown bear, evolving and developing over 5,000 years. And despite the fact that they are separate species, a polar and polar bear can interbreed with a brown bear and produce hybrids capable of reproduction. This phenomenon is very rare both in the wild and in captivity.
The most characteristic, distinctive feature of which is pure white fur - it is not quite what it seems. In reality, the hair follicle is a transparent, hollow tube, and due to this, their fur can reflect the light surrounding the animal. At the same time, throughout the entire life of the animal, the fur may turn yellow or, conversely, acquire a greenish tint. Thus, the wool becomes yellow from age and dirt, and the wool acquires a greenish tint from seaweed breeding in the bear’s fur, in an unnaturally warm and humid environment for it. Another feature that is associated with the color of the bear is that its skin is black in color, which helps to retain heat. 
The animal's tongue is also covered with pigment spots - this is due to the fact that an excessive amount of blood enters it and it becomes blue-black in color. Almost the same color of the tongue is found in dogs of the Chow Chow breed.
Due to the fact that humans practically do not live in the Arctic, the polar bear retains the largest area of its natural habitat among all predators. But even with all this, it is considered an endangered species - its numbers vary throughout the planet from 20,000 to 25,000.
The male weighs on average about 700 kg., and its body length reaches 3 meters and therefore it is the largest of all predators on earth today. But the heavyweight among polar bears is a male, weighing 1002 kilos, who was shot in the 60th year of the last century in Alaska.
The polar bear is an excellent swimmer and can swim for several days and the speed in this case is on average 10 km. at one o'clock. At the same time, the speed of a bear on land is 5.6 km/h, and if necessary, when running, it can reach speeds of up to 40. 
Despite the fact that the polar bear is a fairly large predator, its cubs are born even smaller than human children and reach about 500-700 grams in weight. But the cubs grow quickly, gaining weight and, considering their age, are very smart and nimble. 
In the process of hunting seals, which are the main prey for a bear, the bear uses a lot of techniques and tricks during the hunt. As local residents of the North note, they even cover their black nose with their paws so as not to give themselves away when hiding in the white snow in ambush. Also, during the hunt, the bear uses its keen sense of smell, lying in ambush for several hours near the hole through which the seal emerges to breathe and then the bear attacks.
Polar bears are incredibly clean animals. So after lunch, they always clean themselves up, spending up to an hour on this, cleaning their fur from food debris and dirt.
A few more interesting and unusual facts
- Polar bears are the only one of all its relatives that does not hibernate during the winter, being awake and remaining active and mobile throughout the year. Many scientists determine this activity by habitat conditions, evolution, when the bear adapts to certain living conditions. So, when temperatures drop to critical levels, the only thing that can happen in the bear’s body is a slowdown in metabolic processes.
- Due to its exceptional, or rather unusual biological structure, the animal itself is very warm-blooded, which helps it survive in the conditions of the North. Their body temperature never drops below 31 degrees, and sometimes the bear even avoids running around so as not to overheat.
- Many scientists believe that bears are intellectually on the same level as monkeys. It is due to their keen mind that they can boast of ingenuity and varied hunting methods, changing their own behavior taking into account the environment.
- If a bear fails to find food for 7-8 days, the animal’s body begins to burn its own fat reserves until it is able to catch its prey and eat to its heart’s content, replenishing its body and fat reserves.
- As many ecologists and scientists note, due to the fact that glaciers are actively melting, the polar bear population may decrease by 2/3 of its current number by 2050.
- Despite the fact that bears practice many different hunting methods, only 2% of all attempts are successful for them.
- Foxes inhabiting the Arctic are potential prey and food for the polar bear, but in Canada, historians were able to record a case of a long and strong friendship between these two seemingly different animals.
- Many zoologists note that a polar bear can be subject to outbursts of anger - many facts have been recorded in history when this huge, white giant scattered huge blocks of ice around him and roared thunderously, expressing his emotions. This especially happens after an unsuccessful attempt to hunt.
- In the North, only the female digs a den and gives birth to her offspring - they do not hibernate, but at the same time they try to give birth in a protected shelter.
Today the world celebrates International Polar Bear Day, or in the more familiar Russian version, Polar Bear Day. Polar bears have existed for more than 200 thousand years, and it is known that there were several times more of them than there are now. They are thought to have descended from brown bears that were separated by glaciers near Siberia. In order to adapt to new conditions, their bodies underwent evolutionary changes, and they finally began to look the way they look today. Now the habitat of polar bears is the entire Arctic region in the circumpolar regions of the North. Here are some interesting facts about this wonderful animal.
1. Polar bears are the world's largest land predators, tied for first place with the Kodiak bear. The weight of adult males can reach from 250 to 770 kilograms, and the length (from nose to tail) is 2.5-3 meters. Adult females are half the size: 90-300 kg and 1.8-2.5 meters, respectively.
2. Despite what you see in photographs, polar bears are not white at all. Their fur is colorless because the hairs are hollow and transparent. They reflect light and appear white. Under the fur lies black skin, which is necessary for better absorption of solar heat.
3. Only pregnant females go into long winter hibernation (up to two months or longer). And males continue to hunt throughout the winter.
4. The scientific name of polar bears is Ursus Maritimus (translated from Latin as “sea bears”).
5. Newborn polar bear cubs are much smaller in size than newborn human children. Their weight is about 500 grams and their height is 30-35 centimeters.
6. Although temperatures in the Arctic can drop to -45°C, polar bears usually have problems not with freezing, but with overheating. Especially while running. And all this is due to the physiological characteristics of the bear, which are responsible for maintaining heat. Therefore, bears prefer to move slowly and steadily.
7. Polar bears are excellent swimmers. Thanks to the structure of their paws, they swim gracefully and quite quickly. The average speed is 10 km/h. And it won’t be difficult for bears to swim 161 kilometers without stopping. When swimming, polar bears use their large front paws to propel themselves through the water and their hind paws to steer. By the way, they spend so much time in the water that some scientists classify these animals as marine mammals.
8. Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell. They can smell a seal 32 kilometers away.
9. When bears curl up to sleep, they cover their noses with their paws to keep warm.
10. Polar bears are big clean people. After eating, they spend about 20 minutes cleaning themselves. They need to make sure that there are no food residues left in the wool that could reduce its insulating properties.
11. It is known that polar bears can be subject to outbursts of anger. More than once the bear was seen throwing huge chunks of ice and growling loudly in despair after a failed attempt to grab its prey.
12. Only the polar bear is a predator. All other bears are omnivores.
13. If there is not enough food for them during the cold season, polar bears can starve for several months. This is their natural ability used for survival.
14. Polar bears are the only species of bear that is a marine mammal.
15. Polar bears have 9,677 hairs per square inch.
16. While most bears have bare feet, polar bears' feet have fur on the bases and between the toes. This is necessary to reduce heat loss on cold ice.
17. Polar bears are solitary animals. The exception is the period when they are ready to mate.
18. Thanks to the rough surface on the pads of their paws, polar bears do not slide on the ice.
19. The polar bear has 42 teeth.
20. Due to their adaptation to cold weather, polar bears may become extinct in the event of global warming. Man-made greenhouse gases are heating the Earth, causing the ice to melt, threatening the polar bear population.
21. There are 19 species of polar bears in the world, identified and classified by scientists. Currently, 5 of them are on the verge of extinction.
22. The most favorite food of polar bears are ringed seals, but in winter predators eat everything they can catch. In summer, they feast on berries, leaves and algae.
23. An adult polar bear usually eats one seal every 6-7 days.
24. Having given birth to their cubs on land, polar bears then spend the majority of their lives in the water. Most people mistakenly believe that polar bears are land animals, even though they are classified as marine mammals.
25. For a long time, there was a common myth that polar bears are left-handed. Scientists have not yet answered this question, and it is unlikely that an answer will ever be found. Bears use both paws to both grab their prey and dig. Unlike humans, they do not use only one hand.
26. Despite the fact that northern bears have a reputation as fearsome hunters, their hunting success rate is less than 2%. Polar bears, the most carnivorous of the bear family, expend a lot of energy while hunting. The time and energy they spend searching for food only increases over time as Arctic sea ice disappears and it becomes increasingly difficult for the animals to find their prey (mostly seals). Polar bears can eat more than 25 kilograms of meat in one sitting.
27. Habitats of polar bears: Russia, Canada, USA, Greenland, Arctic islands of Norway.
28. On average, polar bears live 17 years in the wild.
29. Female bears rarely give birth, once every two or three years. One litter can have up to three cubs.
30. The only living creatures that threaten bears are people.
And finally, a riddle:
Why don't Polar Bears eat Penguins?
The answer? the bear lives at the North Pole, and the penguin at the South Pole.
Swim, far away :)
Based on materials from lifestripes.ru and zooblog.ru
Ecology
Basics:
The polar or polar bear is one of the representatives of the bear family. Currently, it is the largest species of bear. The closest relatives of the polar bear are brown bears ( Ursus arctos).
Although zoologists do not recognize the existence of subspecies of polar bears, 19 subpopulations of these mammals live in nature. Polar bears are descended from the grizzly bears of eastern Russia and Alaska, appearing approximately 200-500 thousand years ago.
An adult male polar bear can weigh between 350 and 545 kilograms and, between the ages of 8 and 14 years, reaches the height of an adult when standing on its hind legs. Adult females weigh half as much as males - from 50 to 295 kilograms and reach their maximum size by 5-6 years.
If a bear stands on four legs, its height can reach 1-1.5 meters in both males and females. Polar bears typically live to be 15-18 years old in the wild, but can live for around 30 years, especially in captivity.
Polar bears have perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions of the north. They have two layers of fur - a smooth water-repellent layer and a dense undercoat, as well as a thick layer of fat - from 5 to 10 centimeters - under the skin, which helps retain heat even in the most severe frosts. They have small ears and tail, which prevents them from losing heat.
The feet of bears are covered with fur, and there are tubercles on the soles, which allows bears to move on smooth ice without slipping. White fur is an ideal camouflage, allowing you to hide from hunters in snowy deserts, as well as sneak up on prey unnoticed.
Polar bears are good swimmers thanks to their webbed feet and can swim tens of kilometers in search of food, staying in icy water for several hours. The polar bear's high percentage of body fat also allows them to float well in the water.
In search of prey, the bear relies on its excellent sense of smell. Mainly hunts ringed seals and seals, especially loves to feast on their fat, which is rich in calories and allows the bear to accumulate its own fat, which helps cope with hunger.
If a polar bear fails to eat for 10 days, its metabolism has the ability to slow down until the animal catches prey again. This allows the bear to survive in conditions of food shortage.
Female polar bears give birth to offspring between the ages of 4 and 8 years and have a very low reproductive rate: in their entire life, female bears are capable of giving birth to an average of 5 cubs.
Gestation period is 8 months. A female bear is capable of giving birth to 1 to 3 cubs at a time in her den. Typically births occur between November and January. The female and her cubs leave the den in late March-April.
Newborn polar bear cubs are very tiny - 30 to 35 centimeters in length and weigh on average 0.5 kilograms. They grow quickly and stay with their mother for 2.5 years.
Only the female, who gives birth to offspring, has a den, since polar bears do not hibernate in winter, like other representatives of the bear family. Instead, they know how to slow down their metabolism.
Where do they live?
Polar bears live in northern Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland and the Spitsbergen archipelago, Norway. They live on sea ice where they have easy access to open water to hunt seals. Part of the year is spent on solid ground.
Security status: vulnerable
Biologists estimate that there are between 20 and 25 thousand polar bears living in the wild. At a meeting of polar bear experts in 2009, experts reported that of 19 subpopulations, 8 were in severe decline, 3 were stable, and just 1 was increasing. Data on the remaining 7 populations do not allow us to determine their status.
Research shows that melting Arctic ice due to global warming could lead to two-thirds of polar bears becoming extinct by 2050. Bears also suffer due to oil development and pollution.
In May 2008, the United States announced the inclusion of the polar bear in the Red Book as an endangered species, and Canada and Russia as a vulnerable species.
The largest polar bear ever recorded weighed 1 ton
Although the thermometer in the Arctic may read 45 degrees below zero, bears are more likely to have problems with overheating than hypothermia, especially when running.
A polar bear can smell a seal hole a kilometer away, and if a seal is on the ice, a bear can smell it up to 30 kilometers away!
A bear hunts successfully only 2 percent of the time.
When a mother bear is caring for her cubs in a den, she does not eat, drink or defecate for several months.
The Inuit, the Eskimos of Canada, call the polar bear "nanuk" and treat it with great respect.
The Sami refuse to call the polar bear by name because they are afraid of offending it.
Although the polar bear's fur is white, it has a black skin.
Polar bear for children
This article is dedicated to all the boys and girls who love bears as much as I do! Listed here are some interesting polar bear facts for kids.
Polar bears are among the most majestic, beautiful and dangerous creatures on Earth. Those of you who have seen the film The Golden Compass will remember Iorek Burnison, Prince polar bears. Although Iorek speaks in the movies, real polar bears do not, at least not in the Queen's English or any other human language! Real polar bears are less cruel, much friendlier than Iorek, but just as strong and brave as he is. In this article, I have collected some amazing facts for kids about polar bears. Every fact about polar bears is unique and incredible. Be prepared to be amazed by the life and times of polar bears.
Interesting facts about the polar bear for children
Polar bears are known by the scientific name Ursus Maratimus. The Inuit call polar bears "Nanuks". Today, there are approximately 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide. Here are the promised facts about polar bears for children, presented in order of increasing surprise!
The Arctic is my home!
Polar bears live near the North Pole, above the Arctic Circle, which is one of the coldest places on Earth. They live on sheets of ice and cold earth located around the Arctic Circle. They live in coastal Alaska, Canada, Russia, Norway and Greenland. The normal temperature in these regions is minus 55 degrees Celsius and the wind here blows at an average speed of 48 kilometers per hour! Read more about this in the section “Where do polar bears live?”
I love swimming!
Polar bears are champion swimmers! They can swim at a speed of 9.5 kilometers per hour in sea water at subzero temperatures. None of our gold medal swimmers would stand a chance against a polar bear. Polar bears are known to swim 160 kilometers non-stop, quickly, sometimes relying on ice sheets.
I'm a giant!
Polar bears are the largest bears on earth. Newborn bears are small like rats, but when they start to grow, they stretch three meters in height and weigh more than 635 kilograms! They are one of the largest predators on Earth. Polar bears live up to 25 years, with a maximum of 30.
I have thick fur!
Now you might be wondering how polar bears were able to stay warm and alive in these temperatures. The reason is a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. It acts as a layer of insulation that protects them from the cold, helping them maintain body temperature.
Seals are delicious!
What do polar bears eat that helps them grow to such enormous sizes? They hunt seals, fish, deer and birds. They can sit in an ice hole for several hours to pounce on seals. Sometimes they even eat whale meat. In the summer they switch to a vegetarian diet and eat berries. They are the kings of the Arctic Circle, unparalleled in their strength and endurance.
I have a sensitive nose!
Polar bears have a very keen sense of smell that can smell prey such as seals even 20 kilometers away or one meter below the ice.
My fur reflects white!
Now, the next one of the most interesting polar bear facts for kids is that the polar bear's fur is not white, although it may seem so! Every hair in a polar bear's fur is actually transparent. The fur appears white because it reflects the white color of the ice. The polar bear's fur is oily and repels water, so it can easily stay dry.
My house is melting! Help!
Global warming is having a negative impact on polar bears; the sheets of Arctic ice that serve as their floating homes and hunting grounds are melting very quickly. Polar bears are also valuable to humans for their meat. Today they are classified as vulnerable animals. Read more about this in the article “Polar bears are endangered.” As you can see, each of the facts about polar bears is not comparable to any other animal on Earth. The polar bear is adapted to survive in Arctic and water conditions. We hope these interesting polar bear facts for kids have left you in awe of these majestic creatures of the ice.
