Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are able to reach the speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph) in short bursts. This is the top speed of a polar bear. Ice bears cannot maintain a speed of 40 kilometers per hour for longer periods because if they do they’ll become overheated. The average speed of polar bears is far less than the top speed. They are not generally known for their speeds nor do they rely on speed for hunting. Polar bears get tired too quickly and give up in long chases. However they can be threatening to most arctic mammals especially when they charge at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. You might like to learn more about how fast can a polar bear run in the Arctic habitat.
How Fast Do Polar Bears Run? – Polar Bear Top Speed
The typical speed at which the polar bear travels within the home range is 0.5–2.1 km/h which is quite high in comparison to other terrestrial mammals. Polar bears are mostly most active from May to the end of July. During this period they are often seen running on the sea ice. Young bears regularly play and try to run with as much speed as possible but they remain close to the parents. As the sea ice becomes thin the bears go more active and their movements increase manifold.
They will charge at the speed of about 40 km/h however the usual speed running speed is 30 km/h. Unlike arctic wolves, polar bears lack stamina. They cannot retain the speed of 30 kilometer per hour or above for more than few minutes. The thick coat and the dense fur prevent the bear from running. During running the metabolism rate goes high and the bear is exhausted.
Polar bears are well adapted to running on the thick ice. Thanks to their pads that are extremely well developed and help the bear to have a firm grip on the surface. Brown bears are able to outrun polar bears with the maximum speed of about 56 km/h. However brown bears cannot outrun polar bears on the icy surface; they can only run fast on land.
