Did you know that polar bears have transparent fur and black skin? Or that they can eat 100 pounds of blubber in just one sitting? Polar bears are fascinating creatures and it’s no wonder they’re known as the ‘Lord of the Arctic’ in some parts of the world.
These 1,500-pound beasts have the thickest fur of all bear species, which explains why they look so warm and comfortable despite living in some of the world’s coldest climes. They also have a thick layer of blubber to insulate them and will actually dig snow shelter holes when the cold gets too much even for them.
Churchill is one of the rare places where we can observe polar bears in the wild. On Hudson Bay, polar bears explore the ice packs that form over the water hunting for seals to eat.
Here’re some of the wildest facts about polar bears. Check out some of the weird and wonderful details that make these creatures so unique.
What they look like:
Under their fur, polar bears have black skin.
Credit: Bonnie Flamer Adult bears can grow to be over 2.5 metres long – equivalent to around 8’2’’.
When fully grown, they can weigh around 680 kg – equivalent to 1,500 lbs, the size of a small car.
Their fur is actually transparent with a hollow, light-reflecting core – not white!
A newborn cub is around 30 cm long and 500 g – about 12 inches long and one pound in weight.
Polar bear Mum with young cubs in a maternity dens - Credit: Travel Manitoba They are the world’s biggest land-based carnivores.
Their fur is thicker than that of any other bear.
Credit: Bettye Hyche via Frontiers North Adventures They have large, flat, oar-like feet which also help them swim.
Credit: Lazy Bear Expeditions Their thick layer of fat keeps them warm, but also helps them float.
Wild polar bears live for around 25-30 years.
Polar bears are camouflaged to most animals – the exception being reindeer, which see in ultraviolet light.
They can smell prey from up to 16 km (10 miles) away.
Credit: Alex de Vries Photography They can slow their metabolism if they go for 7-10 days without eating.
Polar bears can swim at around 10 km/h (6 miles/hr) – quicker than the fastest human swim ever recorded (8.6 km/h).
Where they live:
Polar bears can swim over 100 km (62 miles) offshore.
Credit: Lazy Bear Expeditions Polar bears are the only bears considered a marine mammal.
They are found in Canada, the US, Greenland, Norway and Russia.
There are thought to be around 20,000 – 25,000 polar bears in the world.
Polar bears’ ideal habitat is on the edge of pack ice.
Credit: Rick Beldegreen (Courtesy of Travel Manitoba) There are 19 subpopulations around the Arctic.
Floating ice acts as a transporter, helping them to traverse their habitat.
Sea ice is vital for polar bears to hunt – in some places, sea ice is at risk due to rising global temperatures.
How they act:
Cubs stay with their mothers for about two years before heading out on their own.
Polar bears mainly live and hunt alone.
They become more sociable when mating or cub-rearing.
Credit: Paul Scriver via Churchill Wild Polar Bear Tours Only breeding females hibernate in the winter.
Males do not help protect their cubs.
Polar bears are thought to be as smart as some apes.
They have been known to play games by stacking things and knocking them over.
Polar bears & people:
In Inuit mythology, the polar bear is known as Nanuq, or Nanook.
February 27 is International Polar Bear Day.
Credit: Polar Bears International Churchill in Manitoba/Canada is known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World.
Credit: Travel Manitoba Bears gather near the town of Churchill each year to wait for new ice to form.
Credit: Travel Manitoba In Greenland, the polar bear is known as Tornasuk, “the master of helping spirits”.
The Sami people refer to polar bears as “Old man in the fur cloak”.
They do not fear humans.
It’s amazing how much there is to these animals. And never forget, though they may appear cuddly and cute, polar bears are actually the most deadly land predator in the world.
Further information can be found at www.travelmanitoba.com.
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