Polar bears are sexually dimorphic mammals in that males are significantly larger and heavier than females. They are nearly twice larger and heavier in comparison to the females. The typical weight of a male polar bear measures around 350–700 kg (772–1,543 lb). Males are highly aggressive but they usually avoid each other. However during breeding season male bears fight over the females. Male polar bears eat cubs especially when the food is scarce. The cannibalism behavior is more likely to be observed in male polar bears than female polar bears.
Male Polar Bear
Male polar bear is called a boar.
Adult male bears have shoulder height of about 122 to 160 cm (4 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in). Like females male bears also possess short tail measuring up to 7 to 13 cm (2.8 to 5.1 in).
The total length of a boar is 2.4–3 meters (7 ft 10 in–9 ft 10 in). The male polar bears are only slightly smaller than the male Kodiak bears.
How Much does a Male Polar Bear Weigh? | Male Polar Bear Weight
The male polar bear’s weight ranges from 350 to 700 kg (772 to 1,543 lb). According to the Guinness Bookof World Records adult male polar bears weigh up to 385 to 410 kg (849 to 904 lb) and a shoulder height measuring at 133 cm (4 ft 4 in).
Largest Male Polar Bear
The largest male polar bear ever recorded was shot in the northwestern Alaska in 1960. The bear reached the height of about 3.39 m (11 ft 1 in) on her hind legs.
Yes polar bear is a mammal. It possesses all the required characteristics of mammals. The ice bear is the carnivorous mammal. It is in fact the most carnivorous of all bear species. Polar bear is also the world’s largest carnivorous land mammal living today.
Is a Polar Bear a Mammal?
Like all mammals, polar bear females nurse their cubs with milk. The female possesses mammary glands through which the milk is secreted.
Polar bears possess heart which has four chambers. All mammals have four-chambered heart.
White bears are viviparous in that they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
Is a Polar Bear a Marine Mammal?
While polar bear is the largest carnivorous land mammal she is also referred to as the marine mammal because the bear spends more than half of her life in water.
Polar bears have got the amazing ability to swim great distances. They can cover hundreds of kilometers in water without even relaxing. Characteristics such as these make polar bear the marine mammal.
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 runin 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.
Polar bears have probably the best sense of smell throughout the entire animal kingdom. Dogs can detect any object hidden 40 feet underground if they stand right at the top. Polar bears, on the other hand, are able to smell seals 3 feet underneath the ice even if they stand at about 5,249 feet from the source. That is why they rely more on their smelling sense than on hearing or sight. The polar bears hearing sense is nearly equal to that of a normal human.
How Far Can a Polar Bear Smell?
Polar bears use their keen sense of smell not only to find seals but also to pick out the smell of their counterparts. While navigating through the arctic habitats, white bears will sniff on each step. This shows how much alert the bears are not only to the prey but also to any possible threat. This is quite handy during mating season when male bears must find females.
Yes they probably do! Thanks to their remarkable sense of smell polar bears can afford to wait thousands of feet from the prey—letting herself to go unnoticed. The most popular hunting method is still hunting in which the bear crouches with light steps while approaching the seal breathing hole. She can wait for hours in order to allow the seal to swim near the surface. When the seal exhales the polar bear smells it and reaches for the kill.
A polar bear can detect the scent of its prey more than a mile away. How far can a polar bear smell its prey? Photo by: Vladimir Melnik/Shutterstock
Polar Bears Olfactory Nerves
The study of polar bear’s skull shows that the foramen (the opening or passage in the bone) is linked with 12 cranial nerves. The cribriform plate (a sieve-like structure between the anterior cranial fossa and the nasal cavity) supports the olfactory nerves. This is quite common in all animals which have acute smelling sense.
The cranial nerve typically finds its way via optic foramen and punctures the orbitosphenoid bone. The orbital bone lies at the anterior lacerate foramen. The foramen rotundum together with the foramen ovale are thought to puncture alisphenoid bone. Scientists have recently come up with the discovery of another cranial nerve which lies at the olfactory nerve. These nerves assist the bear to locate prey which may be a mile away.
Polar Bears can Smell Humans
While polar bears do not normally eat humans they do however attack if they find one on their way. The olfactory signals help the bear to detect the human sweat. Sometimes it so happens that a hungry polar bear is navigating through the arctic and suddenly she finds hikers or photographers who have set a camp. All of a sudden she finds you as a prey. Furthermore the smell of a carcass can bring the bear near you so beware not to set up a camp near carcass.
Polar bears are shallow divers and they swim in a dog-paddle style. Thanks to its forepaws which serve as propeller and push the animal through water to give it speed. The bear gets the buoyancy from her body fat which she gathers by eating a lot of seals. Bear’s forepaws are extremely helpful in paddling underwater without which the animal would not swim as much.
Arctic bears can gain a speedof 10 kilometers per hour. Polar bears have large feet so that they do not only spread the animal’s weight (during walk) but also offers propulsion during swimming. The feet of a polar bear measure up to 30 cm (12 in) across. They close their nostrils when they dive into the water.
Ours nageant Culture du Dorset moyen Site d’Alamek, région d’Iglulik, Canada Ivoire sculpté Canadian museum of civilization, Gatineau dans l’exposition Upside down, Les Arctiques Musée du Quai Branly
Not only do polar bears navigate through the arctic habitat on their own they also smell food from a mile away. The unique ability to smell prey (hidden 3 feet under the snow) allows polar bear to survive in the world’s most inhospitable environment. Clearly most other carnivores let alone bears would give up hunting in the Arctic habitat. This is what makes polar bears an apex predator in the arctic marine ecosystem.
How Do Polar Bears Hunt Seals?
Polar bears possess many characteristic adaptations that make them rather deadly predator in the arctic ecosystem. The unique hunting strategies, acute sense of smell, powerful long teeth adapted to chewing and crushing seal’s head, exceptional strength, good eyesight, and remarkable hearing—all combine to form formidable polar bears.
In the Arctic Circle polar bears rely on seals for nutrition and why wouldn’t they? There are millions of seals living in the Arctic waters and when they emerge to the surface they become polar bear’s primary prey. Seals come to the surface for two reasons; one is to breathe and the other reason is to relax on the ice float. Polar bears must go after their prey during these times with no exception.
Seals come to the surface for two reasons; one is to breathe and the other reason is to relax on the ice float. Polar bears must go after their prey during these times with no exception.
Seals are the important prey of arctic bears—they love to eat seals all day long. However eating a seal and hunting a seal are two different things. Hunting an animal such as seal is challenging because seals possess equally good sense of smell. As the bear approaches the seal’s hole it (the seal) dives down into the water and escapes. It happens quite often and many polar bear’s attempts go in vain. But there are methods in the polar bear’s attempts. These methods are called polar bear’s hunting methods.
Polar bears likely consume ringed seals (including pups) more readily as compared to bearded seals. They are thought to hunt in the direction of the wind precisely because bears sniff out all along on the sea ice. April is the ideal month when bear must look out ringed seal’s pups. Polar bears crush and eat the head of a pup if she is too hungry else the bear just leaves the head.
The still-hunting is probably the most familiar and effective hunting method of polar bears. In this method bears rely on their acute sense of smell to search seal breathing hole.
The still-hunting is probably the most familiar and effective hunting method of polar bears. In this method bears rely on their acute sense of smell to search seal breathing hole. The breathing hole is a point where seals show up for breathing. The white bear will crouch in close proximity to the hole as close as she possibly can. It does so without making sound. If the seal doesn’t show for hours the polar bear waits for hours. The predator remains calm, silent, and motionless all during this time. She is a patient hunter.
When the right moment arrives and the bear smells a seal exhaling in its hole she (bear) smashes the ice with her forepaw and pull the seal onto the surface. Now the polar bear will crush the seal’s head and eat it later.
Polar Bear’s Second Hunting Method
Yet another polar bear’s hunting method is stalking. Just like land mammals polar bears stalk seals when they (seals) relax on the sea ice. The bear attempts to reach within 100 yards closer to the prey without getting noticed. If the seal remains unaware the bear inches to within 40 feet of the prey and then it sprints towards the seal for the final attempt. Bears rush for the final attempt when seals show its head again to scan the area.
If the seal remains unaware the bear inches to within 40 feet of the prey and then it sprints towards the seal for the final attempt.
In the past four years studies have photographed that adult polar bears catch and pursue lesser snow geese on land in the mid-summer. This shows a partly change not only in polar bear’s diet but also in her hunting techniques.
Stalking has long proved to be useful for polar bears probably because they camouflage themselves during the hunt. Seals cannot spot bears since the bear’s white color blends with the arctic sea ice. As it turns out polar bears go unnoticed even when they get 5 – 10 meters close to the prey.
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) communicate with each other not only through words but also by actions. They speak to one another just like we humans do. One of their body postures is known as head wagging which is a sign of excitement and suggests that the bear wants to play. Polar bears also communicate through smell, sight, and touch. They will utter growling call or grind their teeth when they are offended. Polar bear cubs are likely to smack their lips which indicate that they are scared.
How Do Polar Bears Communicate?
Adult males often fight in playing and they do so when one of the individuals advances towards the other by lowering down its head; not looking into other’s eyes, with mouth closed and front paws to the side. The first contact is typically made by mouthing and touching the other’s neck. Minutes later they both stand only on hind legs which shows they are ready to play-fight. During play-fight one polar bear will push the other with her forepaws.
How Do Female Polar Bears Communicate with her Cubs?
A female polar bear is known to communicate with her cubs by touching her muzzle, body, and paws. When mother is angry she just touches cubs with her forepaws or utter a low growling sound but when she wants to show affection she might use her muzzle against the cub’s muzzle. In order to give comforts to the cubs the mother mostly nuzzles her snout. When she wants to send warning or threat signal to her cubs then she utters chuffing sound. The cubs respond to her call and get as close to her as possible.
When polar bears growl it means that they are extremely angry. A deep growling may also suggest the mother bear is protecting her food—she is just telling others to stay away. If an intruder doesn’t listen to her warning then she might charge with her heads down and ears back. However apart from that mother usually avoid getting into conflict with adult males and they only do so when provoked. She would also stay downwind of aggressive bears so that it may not smell her.
A female polar bear is less than half the size of a male polar bear. She is also much less in weight as compared to their mating partners. A female bear attains maturity in just 4 – 5 years but if the food is abundant she becomes mature in 3 years. Every spring she enters into hibernation sort of state (dormancy) and remains inactive in her den. This is a period of pregnancy and she leaves the den only after the cubs are able to run along with her. The female polar bear is thought to be highly devoted and dedicated mother as she continues to nurse her cubs for as long as 1 – 2 years.
What is a Female Polar Bear Called?
A female polar bear is called sow. Sow remains inactive for almost half of the year. She spends these inactive hours in her den.
How much does a Female Polar Bear Weigh? | Female Polar Bear Weight
Adult females weigh no more than 150 – 250 kg (331–551 lb) with the overall length measuring up to 1.8–2.4 meters (5 ft 11 in–7 ft 10 in). The maximum weight ever recorded in adult females is about 260 kg (573 lb). During pregnancy when they are about to enter den they weigh as much as 500 kg (1,102 lb).
Soon after mating the sows will eat large amount of food in order to store fat reserves. These fat reserves are pretty useful during dormancy. During these days sows put so much weight that they become compatible with adult males.
Denning Behavior
A sow is adaptable to survive many weeks in starvation especially during late summer and early fall. During warmer months when the ice floes break up sows begin to dig maternity dens in which they are going to spend the next four months in hibernation. The den consists of 3 to 4 chambers with a narrow opening. They preferably make dens in drift snows but if the snow is not thick enough the dens may be shifted underground. The underground dens are usually made 2 – 3 kilometers from the coast.
A Female polar bear nursing her cubs. Chelsea Tischler — National Geographic Your Shot
Hunting Seals
She prefers to hunt young bearded or ringed seals because the adult seals are too large to be handled by sow alone. Only mature boars are strong enough to take down adult seals.
How Do Female Polar Bears Communicate with their Young?
When adult females want to communicate to their young they produce a couple of sounds such as chuffs and moans. However the distress or a mayday call consists of bleats. She utters huffs or snorts or growls when she feels threatened or nervous.
Female bears will communicate with adult males by leaving their scents behind so that males follow the track. The verbal communication and chemical composition go side by side in bears.
Affection with her Cubs
Sows are one of the most affectionate mothers in the carnivorous mammals. They never leave the cubs unattended. Many a times it happens that a female polar bear adopts a wild cub and a cub becomes the permanent member of her family unit. She actively guards her cubs against any potential predator including mature bears. The boars are known to kill cubs and sometimes eat them when they are hungry.
Female Polar Bear Lifespan
The maximum lifespan of a female polar bear is 43 years which is of a captive specimen that died in 1991.
Yes, polar bears do have tails. However the size is so small that one can barely notice it. It is almost as if the bear lacks one. Arctic bears have tiny tails as is typical of all bears. Unlike other bear’s characteristics, tail appears to be quite irrelevant in polar bear’s behavioral adaptations. It doesn’t seem to be a defining feature of a large, potentially dangerous polar bear. Let’s find out why do polar bears have tails.
Do Polar Bears have Tails?
But…the question is why don’t polar bears have long tails? Studies suggest that millions of years ago polar bears had possessed possess long tails. As the bear evolves it eventually loses the length of its tail so much so that one can easily classify polar bear as a tail-less predator.
Currently, polar bears have only 5-inches-long stubby tails which are in absolute contrast to the massive body size.
Polar bear’s tail not only has an extra blood vessel—it possesses an additional layer of fat which prevents the tail from freezing in extreme temperature. The tail is all covered with furs and its only possible function is to protect the polar bear’s anus.
The bear’s tail is quite visible but it’s probably not the defining feature in polar bears. Polar bears have got the shortest tails of all bear species. Do polar bears have tails? Photo by Polarbearsinternational.org
Researchers believe that bears let alone polar bears lose their tail-length in the process of evolution because they probably didn’t need one. This is quite rare in other land carnivores such as dogs. Dog’s tail serves as an important tool in communication.
Dogs wag tails when they are happy. Similarly macaques use their long tails to balance their bodies while moving between the trees. Cheetah’s tail helps her to steer as well as to stabilize while sprinting at 70 miles per hour.
Polar bears on the other hand prefer to communicate head on. They will stand on hind legs to send specific signals to their counterparts. But polar bears will never use tails in the same way as other mammals do. In fact, ironically perhaps they don’t know if they ever had one on their back.
Yes they probably do! The rapid change in climate has caused the Arctic’s sea ice to melt at an increasing pace. The melting of ice in turn brings polar bears and humans closer ever than before. Over the past few decades several polar bear attacks on humans have been reported and they are likely to rise in future. It occurs because bears are now adapting to hunt on land as they cannot survive the summer months without food. Let’s see why do polar bears eat people.
Do Polar Bears Attack Humans?
That said, polar bears are less likely to look at humans as a potential food source but they are more inclined to see humans as a threat. They do not actively pursue humans just like they hunt seals or other animals. Polar bears never eat humans. It just happens that sometimes humans’ camps near the polar bear’s habitat and the bear smells their presence and attack them. It’s not wrong to assume that polar bears are curious animals. Their increased curiosity (alongside hunger) brings them close to humans.
Polar bears will attack humans when bears feel threatened by the human presence. It happens when humans get close to the bear’s habitat. Polar bears might maul if they are hungry or when the mother bear is with her cubs. She will not tolerate any suspected predator near her cubs.
Do Polar Bears Attack Humans? – Video showing a BBC cameraman is inside the cube and he’s attacked by a female polar bear but a hungry one.
Polar Bear Attacks on Humans
1.) On December 8, 1990 a polar bear attacked 28-year-old Carl Stalker who was walking with her girlfriend in Point Lay, Alaska. The bear killed Carl and started eating him. Authorities killed the bear immediately at the same place where the Carl died.
2.) On July 9, 1999 a male polar bear attacked two people on the Hudson Bay camp but fortunately both of them survived with major injuries. One of the adult females Hattie Amitnak (age 64) attempted to distract the animal and the bear charged for her. However she escaped. Hattie was later awarded with the posthumous medal for her bravery.
3.) In the year 2010 a polar bear attacked one of the explorers at his camp in Svalbard, Norway. The arctic’s apex predator pulled the 22-year-old Sebastian Nilssen from his camp and dragged him 130 feet along the ice. The other camper Fjeld shot the bear and the Nilssen’s life was saved. He suffered major injuries on his chest and head.
4.) In 2009 a captive polar bear attacked a woman who tried to swim inside the bear’s enclosure. The attack was understandably expected since woman was neither a zookeeper nor did she possess any special skills to handle polar bears. She just jumped into the enclosure for fun. The incident occurred in the Berlin zoo and the woman was pulled back in time. The bear bit many times on the woman’s legs and back. However, she managed to get away and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
A 4-year-old polar bear attacked a woman who tried to swim towards a bear. Do polar bears eat humans. Photo by Daily Mail.A polar bear holding woman’s cardigan in her mouth. Do polar bears eat humans? Photo by Daily Mail.
5.) In March 2016, a woman was feeding chicken bones to a polar bear in Cape Schmidt in Chukotka, east Russia. The polar bear attacked her but her husband stood nearby and he did something no one has ever imagined. He threw his dog at the polar bear to save his wife’s life—probably one of the worst things you’d ever expect. Nonetheless, the woman managed to get away with some bruises but no serious injuries reported. However we do not know what might have happened to the dog one that was thrown at a bear.
Do Polar Bears Eat People? – Video showing a polar attacks a woman and a woman’s husband throws a dog at polar bear in order to save her wife. Some of you might find it disturbing so viewers discretion is advised.
