 | Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live in the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark, Greenland, and Norway. There are six different populations: the Chukchi Sea, North-North Western Alaskan and Canadian, Canadian Artic Archipelago, Greenland, Spitzbergan-Franz Josef Land, and Central Siberean populations. There are between 22,000 and 27,000 polar bears in the wild. Due to the relatively low population they are on the threatened species list. Major threats to the bears include poaching/hunting, pollution, climate change, and industrial threats such as factories in close proximity to their natural habitat. Polar bears are very large. Adult male polar bears are 8-10 feet tall and weigh 550 to 1,700 pounds. Females weigh 200 to 700 pounds and are 6-8 feet tall. They have two layers of fur and a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from the extreme cold. Because of their superior insulation system, they overheat very quickly. Polar bears have an average life span of 15-18 years, but can live up to 30 years. Bears in captivity can live to be in their late 30s and even 40s. Female polar bears have about 10 cubs during their lifetime. Polar bear cubs are usually born in pairs. They are born in underground “snow dens” during November and December. When they are born, the cubs weigh one pound and are roughly one foot long. They are blind, toothless, and have very short fur. Between November and April, they stay in the den and grow very fast. Cubs live with their mother until they are 2 ˝ years old. These bears have a very limited diet. A polar bear’s diet is primarily made up of ringed seal and bearded seal fat. A polar bear will consume an average of 100 pounds of fat in one sitting. Occasionally they kill walruses and beluga whales. If seals are especially scarce, polar bears will eat reindeer, birds, bird eggs, kelp, and beached whales. Because they are at the top of the Artic food chain, they have no natural predators. |
| Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live in the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark, Greenland, and Norway. There are six different populations: the Chukchi Sea, North-North Western Alaskan and Canadian, Canadian Artic Archipelago, Greenland, Spitzbergan-Franz Josef Land, and Central Siberean populations. There are between 22,000 and 27,000 polar bears in the wild. Due to the relatively low population they are on the threatened species list. Major threats to the bears include poaching/hunting, pollution, climate change, and industrial threats such as factories in close proximity to their natural habitat. Polar bears are very large. Adult male polar bears are 8-10 feet tall and weigh 550 to 1,700 pounds. Females weigh 200 to 700 pounds and are 6-8 feet tall. They have two layers of fur and a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from the extreme cold. Because of their superior insulation system, they overheat very quickly. Polar bears have an average life span of 15-18 years, but can live up to 30 years. Bears in captivity can live to be in their late 30s and even 40s. Female polar bears have about 10 cubs during their lifetime. Polar bear cubs are usually born in pairs. They are born in underground “snow dens” during November and December. When they are born, the cubs weigh one pound and are roughly one foot long. They are blind, toothless, and have very short fur. Between November and April, they stay in the den and grow very fast. Cubs live with their mother until they are 2 ˝ years old. These bears have a very limited diet. A polar bear’s diet is primarily made up of ringed seal and bearded seal fat. A polar bear will consume an average of 100 pounds of fat in one sitting. Occasionally they kill walruses and beluga whales. If seals are especially scarce, polar bears will eat reindeer, birds, bird eggs, kelp, and beached whales. Because they are at the top of the Artic food chain, they have no natural predators. |  |
 | Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live in the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark, Greenland, and Norway. There are six different populations: the Chukchi Sea, North-North Western Alaskan and Canadian, Canadian Artic Archipelago, Greenland, Spitzbergan-Franz Josef Land, and Central Siberean populations. There are between 22,000 and 27,000 polar bears in the wild. Due to the relatively low population they are on the threatened species list. Major threats to the bears include poaching/hunting, pollution, climate change, and industrial threats such as factories in close proximity to their natural habitat. Polar bears are very large. Adult male polar bears are 8-10 feet tall and weigh 550 to 1,700 pounds. Females weigh 200 to 700 pounds and are 6-8 feet tall. They have two layers of fur and a thick layer of blubber to insulate them from the extreme cold. Because of their superior insulation system, they overheat very quickly. Polar bears have an average life span of 15-18 years, but can live up to 30 years. Bears in captivity can live to be in their late 30s and even 40s. Female polar bears have about 10 cubs during their lifetime. Polar bear cubs are usually born in pairs. They are born in underground “snow dens” during November and December. When they are born, the cubs weigh one pound and are roughly one foot long. They are blind, toothless, and have very short fur. Between November and April, they stay in the den and grow very fast. Cubs live with their mother until they are 2 ˝ years old. These bears have a very limited diet. A polar bear’s diet is primarily made up of ringed seal and bearded seal fat. A polar bear will consume an average of 100 pounds of fat in one sitting. Occasionally they kill walruses and beluga whales. If seals are especially scarce, polar bears will eat reindeer, birds, bird eggs, kelp, and beached whales. Because they are at the top of the Artic food chain, they have no natural predators. |  |