Polar Bear Facts

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  • Top 59 Questions about Polar Bears | Polar Bear FAQs

    Here are the most frequently asked questions about polar bears. Over the past few decades polar bears have become the subject of research for many scientists. While most scientists discuss polar bears in respect of global warming others seem to be interested in the biology and behavioral psychology of polar bears.

    How Do Polar Bears Eat?

    Main Article: How Much Do Polar Bears Eat?

    Adult polar bears start eating the seals blubber first because it gives them what they want that is fats. Young polar bears however consume meat because they need protein in their diet more than the fats.

    What Colors are Polar Bears?

    Main Article: What Color are Polar Bears?

    While polar bears seem white in color they are truly black within inside. The skin is absolutely black whereas the polar bear hairs are transparent. They just appear to be white.

    What Do Polar Bears Need to Survive?

    Main Article: What Do Polar Bears Eat?

    Polar bears for the most part of their lives need fats to survive in the frigid arctic habitat. They get fats from seals let alone ringed seals. They also need icy cold habitat where ice floes move over water. White bears hunt seals while standing on ice floes.

    Do Polar Bears Eat Seals?

    Yes they definitely do! As a matter of fact seals are the most favorite diet of polar bears. For polar bears seals are the most nutritious meal and there can be no replacement ever for it. They are most likely to prey on ringed seals and less likely on bearded seals.

    Can Polar Bears Live in Warm Weather?/Can Polar Bears Survive in the Heat?

    Main Article: How Do Polar Bears Adapt to their Environment?

    Polar bears cannot live in warm weather for they may die in the heat within few hours. Even in the freezing temperature of the arctic polar bears get overheated when they run. That is one reason why polar bears silently approach their prey instead of charging it.

    Where Can you find Polar Bears?

    You can find polar bears in five different countries that are adjacent to Arctic Circle. These countries are Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Canada (Svalbard), United States (Alaska), and Russia.

    Where Do you See Polar Bears in Alaska?

    In Alaska polar bears are most likely to be seen in Barter Island especially during the ice-free summer months. There are communities that arrange trips for people to go and watch Arctic’s deadliest predator. Northern Alaska Tour Company (NATC) is one of them that design a Polar Bear Expedition each year.



    Do Polar Bears Live in the Antarctic?

    No! Polar bears do not live in the Antarctic. Antarctic is the place of penguins which lies at the South Pole whereas polar bears live in the Northern Hemisphere—both are opposite ends of the pole.

    Why Don’t Polar Bears Live in the Antarctic?

    Polar bears have never lived in the Antarctic probably because they have evolved to occupy a specialized ecological niche in the arctic. Besides, they have evolved from brown bears that also live in Alaska. Hence there is no chance that polar bears would ever find their way to the Antarctic.

    Why Don’t Polar Bears Feet get Freeze?

    Polar bears feet do not get freeze even when the temperature drops down to negative 50 degree centigrade. They are covered with dense hairs which serve as insulators and prevent the feet from freezing.

    How Big is the Biggest Polar Bear?

    The biggest polar bear weighed as much as 1,002 kg (2,209 lb) and it stood 3.39 m (11 ft 1 in) on its rear legs. The shoulder height measured at 122 to 160 cm (4 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in). The specimen shot in the northwestern Alaska in 1960. The biggest polar bear was a male.

    What Do Polar Bears Do?

    Polar bears hunt for seals in the early winter, smell their mating partner during breeding season, enters into dormancy in early spring, and play-fight.

    Habitat of Polar Bear and Penguin?

    The polar bear’s habitat is sea ice and water. The bear spends most of her time in swimming. Penguins also share the same habitat characteristics in that they live in water as well as on the sea ice.

    Do Polar Bears live in the North Pole?

    Yes, polar bears live in the North Pole.  Arctic lies at the North Pole and so as polar bears.

    Do Polar Bears live in the South Pole?

    No, polar bears do not live in the South Pole. Penguins live in the South Pole. Polar bears and penguins cannot meet for they inhabit the opposite ends of the pole.

    Can Polar Bears Climb?

    Polar bears can climb up the hill or small mountains but they cannot climb up the trees. They climb in the warmer months when the primary prey (seals) is scarce. Polar bears mostly climb up the hill to search birds or birds’ eggs. Over the past recent years they have adapted to eating geese eggs.

    How Big Do Polar Bears Get?/How Tall Can a Polar Bear Get?

    Polar bears are quite bulky in that they weigh as much as 700 – 800 kilograms. An adult polar bear might be equal to three average-sized Siberian tigers. They can reach the height of about 5 – 6 feet while standing on her hindlegs.

    How Do Polar Bears Survive?

    Polar bears eat a lot of seals in early spring. The pregnant females prey on ringed seals as many as she possibly can for she becomes dormant in the next 3 – 4 months. During dormancy polar bears consume available fats which they stored earlier. That is how polar bears survive the fasting months of the arctic.



    Can Baby Polar Bears Swim?

    Not exactly in a way adult bears swim but yes they probably can! However baby bears get too tired while swimming and as it turns out they mount on the mother’s back and enjoys the rest of the journey. Besides, mother bear rarely allows her cubs to swim longer than usual.

    Do Polar Bears Drink Sea Water?

    Not really! Polar bears get water by eating seal blubber. They don’t need to drink sea water for their survival.

    Do Polar Bears Eat Meat?

    Yes, in fact the polar bear is the most carnivorous of all bears. Ice bears rely almost entirely on meat for their consumption. They eat seals and whale carcasses all day long. Sometimes only sometimes they eat green matter.

    How Many Polar Bears are Left?

    While the exact count of polar bears population is not known the estimated global numbers are thought to be around 21,000 – 25,000 bears. These figures do not reflect on the polar bears inhabiting Russia. Thus the numbers are believed to be understated. Scientists maintain that there might be as many as 40,000 polar bears living in the world.

    Do Polar Bears Eat other Polar Bears?

    Yes, polar bears do eat other polar bears but only sometimes. This is known as cannibalism in which the animal eats her own kind. Male polar bears often kill and (sometimes) eat polar bear cubs when they are extremely hungry.

    How Long does a Polar Bear Feed its Young Milk?

    Polar bear mother is highly devoted mother unlike most other land carnivores. She will milk her cubs for as long as 1.5 – 2.0 years. The young bear remains with their mother until they reach 2 years age.

    What Do Newborn Cubs Look Like?

    A newborn cub is nearly the size of a squirrel. It hardly weighs one kilogram at birth. The polar bear cubs are born blind, hairless, and toothless. They grow very quickly and gain weight in the next few days.

    How often does a Polar Bear have Babies?

    Polar bears birth interval is 3 years. This is because of the prolonged lactation period. The mother feeds her young for two years and a year later she is ready to mate again. The female bear gives birth to twins but three is also not uncommon.

    Where Do Polar Bears Sleep?

    Polar bears make dens where they can sleep and relax. They make dens on the ice floes as well as on land. Polar bears find best location to make dens—a place where the density of snow is the greatest to cover the den. The female bears enter into deep sleep (sort of hibernation) in dens. The dens are also called maternity dens because the mother raises her cubs inside the den.

    How Polar Bears are affected by Global Warming?

    Over the last hundred years the global surface temperature has increased by 1.6 degree centigrade. This causes the Arctic sea ice to melt quickly than ever. The sea ice is the essential characteristic of a polar bear’s habitat. As it turns out the global climate change has rendered many of the white bears redundant.

    How aggressive is a Polar Bear?

    Polar bears are quite aggressive but they are not as aggressive as they’re sometimes portrayed. Only a hungry polar bear is likely to attack humans that live within the bear’s territory otherwise they avoid fighting or getting in confrontations with humans. Nonetheless, during ice-free season polar bears may look at humans as a potential food source.

    What are the Threats to the Polar Bears?

    Polar bears are not only facing habitat loss but they are also hunted in large numbers every year. The indigenous people are allowed to kill 50 – 60 polar bears each year because their living depends on it. Except in the United States, no serious protection is given and polar bears are quite threatened in much of their range.

    What is a Polar Bear’s Diet?

    Polar bear’s primary diet consists of ringed seals and bearded seals whereas harp seals, whale carcasses, walruses, birds, and geese eggs make up the secondary diet of a bear.

    How Many Polar Bears are Killed Every Year?

    Researchers estimate that every year around 50 – 60 polar bears are shot. Not only do the indigenous people but also the professional hunters illegally kill polar bears.

    Why is it Important to Save the Polar Bear?

    Polar bears are apex predators of the Arctic’s ecological niche. They sit at the top of the food chain throughout the North Pole. Polar bear extinction means the population explosion of many marine mammals inhabiting the arctic.

    Why are the Polar Bears going Extinct?

    First of all polar bears are not going extinct near future. Secondly possible causes of their endangerment are massive hunting, climate change, habitat loss, and starvation. Scientists blame global warming for the probable decline in polar bear population.

    What is the Habitat of a Polar Bear?

    Polar bear’s habitat consists of sea ice including ice floes that move with the seasons as well as icy cold water. They prefer to make homes in the greatest density of snow so that the dens are completed covered and safe.

    Why Do Polar Bears Need the Ice?

    Polar bears need the ice for two reasons: first they need ice to hunt seals secondly polar bears make dens on the ice floes. During summer months polar bears neither make dens on the snow nor do they hunt seals. Ice is probably the most essential characteristic of polar bear habitat.

    How Polar Bears have adapted to their Environment?

    Over the past few years polar bears have adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and relying on animals other than seals. When seals are not available (during ice-free months) the bear resorts to eating birds, small land mammals, and whale or dolphin carcasses. It seems like polar bears are aware of their diet limitation and the fact that their survival is associated with the adaptability.

    Can Polar Bears Swim Well?

    Polar bears are outstanding swimmers for they can swim for days without relaxing. Unlike any other bear the polar bear spends most of her time in water. That is why ice bear is also called marine mammal.

    What is the Adaptation of a Polar Bear?

    The adaptation of a polar bear includes the bear sight, hearing, smell, teeth, and skull. The ability to camouflage and swimming are yet other adaptations that make polar bears stand out among the rest.

    How Much Do Polar Bears Eat a Day?

    During spring season polar bears can eat up to 40 – 50 kilograms of meat every day. It occurs when the bear finds her primary prey that is ringed seals.

    Do Polar Bears like the Cold?

    Polar bears do not only like the cold they also need it. They cannot survive the heat for the animal is protected by dense hair or fur.

    What is the Ecological Niche of the Polar Bear?

    Polar bears always speak high of their strength and ability to prey just about anything in the arctic. They are the apex predators in that they dominate their ecological niche. Many arctic mammals fall prey to polar bears; from a vulnerable prey such as ringed seal to as large as walrus or beluga whale.

    Do Polar Bears have Thick Fur Coats?

    Polar bears have extremely thick fur and the frequency of their furs is the highest when they reach adulthood. Ice bears are protected with two layers of fur: one is the external guard hair and the other is dense underfur. The guard hair measures 5 – 15 cm.

    Are Polar Bears Omnivores?

    Polar bears are almost exclusively carnivores. They are the most carnivorous bear species. However polar bears do sometimes consume grass especially after mating. This can possibly make polar bears omnivorous but they are carnivorous omnivorous.

    How Long Can a Polar Bear Live up to?

    Polar bears have a lifespan of about 15 – 25 years but they can live up to 35 years in captivity. The lifespan of a bear mainly depends on her habitat and diet. The greater is the habitat loss the lesser is the polar bear lifespan.

    How does a Polar Bear Camouflage?

    Polar bears get easily lost in the snowy white background of the arctic ice. Seals do not have good eyesight and it becomes harder for them to spot white bears because the white color of the animal blends with the external environment. Besides, polar bears also disappear when someone takes shot from the sky. Biologists cannot spot polar bears when they view animal from above.

    What Color is a Polar Bear’s Skin and Fur?

    The polar bears skin is absolutely black in color whereas the fur is crystal clear. Neither of these is white in color.

    What makes a Polar Bear White?

    Polar bear’s fur makes the bear white. The bear’s fur lacks pigment. As a result the hairs are colorless. They do however reflect the snow white color of the ice. This indeed makes a polar bear white.

    Why Do Polar Bears have Black Skin?

    The black color does not reflect the wavelength of light. It absorbs light. Polar bears have black skin color because it keeps the bear warm in the freezing arctic tundra.

    Why Do Polar Bears have Hollow Hair?

    Polar bear hairs are hollow because it camouflages the animal and protects her from any potential threat. The hair reflects the white color of the snow which is why the bear appears white. During sunset however the polar bear looks yellowish orange for it reflects the sunlight.

    What is a Baby Polar Bear Called?

    The baby polar bear is called a cub. The polar bear cub grows very quickly in the first couple of weeks.

    How Long does it take for a Polar Bear to be Fully Grown?

    Polar bears are nearly the size of a squirrel at birth but they grow quickly within few weeks. However white bears attain their maximum weight and height at the age of 2 years. They become fully grown at 2 years age.

    How Do Polar Bears Protect themselves from Predators?

    While polar bears do not appear to have any natural predators in the arctic they do nevertheless protect themselves against possible threats. Polar bears not only camouflage but they also go into their dens to prevent cubs from predators.

    Do Polar Bears Cover their Noses when they Hunt?

    There is no scientific argument that explains why polar bears cover their noses (if at all) when they hunt. Polar bears never show behavior such as this. People might have observed bears covering their noses but scientists reject any such notion.

    Why Do Polar Bears live in the Arctic Circle?

    Polar bears have occupied the arctic habitat since centuries. The bear has long adapted to living in the arctic ecosystem. They have evolved in the Northern Hemisphere and the entire North Pole provides the ideal setting for the polar bear’s habitat.

    Where Do You Find Polar Bears in Canada?

    Polar bears are thought to occupy as much as 3.1 million square kilometers of area in Canada alone. The total population of the Canadian polar bears is estimated at 12,700. In Canada polar bears are found in James Bay, western and southern Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and Southern Beaufort, and Labrador.

    Why Don’t Polar Bears Catch Seals in the summer?

    Polar bears hunt seals while standing on the large chunks of ice. During summer the ice floes break forcing bears to rely on land animals. In this way polar bears resort to hunting some alternative prey instead of seals. They cannot eat seals in warmer months.

    Are Polar Bears Nocturnal?

    Polar bear are crepuscular animals in that they remain active all day and night. The arctic tundra remains in darkness for as long as 3 – 4 months. If the bear adopts a diurnal lifestyle then she probably starves during these months. Similarly if she becomes nocturnal when the sun dominates the bear becomes helpless. Thus it is clear that polar bears must adapt to learn diurnal as well nocturnal lifestyle in the arctic tundra.

    What are some animals that live with polar bears?

    Polar bears share their frozen habitat with many other animals such as ringed seals, bearded seals, arctic foxes, arctic wolves, walrus, muskox, arctic tern, arctic skua, arctic hare, Greenland shark, killer whale, beluga whale, narwhal, sea otter, snow geese, and puffins.

  • Polar Bear Predator Prey Relationship

    Polar bears are the Arctic’s land-based predators. They have a wide range of preys. While the primary prey is limited to seals the secondary prey is varied. The polar bear’s varied diet is primarily due to the bear’s opportunistic nature because it loves to eat just about any animal—medium to large sized mammals as well as birds.

    Polar Bear Predator Prey Relationship with Seals

    Polar bears seem to show very strong relationship with seals. Favorite among the seals is the ringed seal but they also consume bearded seals. Seals provide them blubber and fats which the bear ultimately requires for living in the freezing habitat. The entire population of polar bears requires as much as one million seals in just a period of one year. This shows the powerful predator-prey relationship of polar bear with seals. Harp seals and hooded seals are also consumed but not preferred.

    Polar Bear Predator Prey Relationship with Walruses

    Walruses are huge mammals and an adult walrus may weigh as much as 2,000 kilograms. Polar bears do have predator-prey relationship with walruses but the link doesn’t appear to be as strong as that in seals. Adult walruses are so large that even the largest polar bear would prefer to hunt young walrus. Besides, they live in large colonies making it quite difficult for the bear to spot one in thousand.

    Polar Bear Predator Prey Relationship with Birds

    Read More: Do Polar Bears Eat Birds?

    Lately birds have never been the significant prey for polar bears except in the past few decades. This is probably due to the rise in global average temperature of the earth’s surface. The sea ice melts earlier each year—forcing bears to rely an alternate prey. Summers become longer than winter. As it turns out polar bears have started eating birds. The predator prey relationship between polar bears and birds is the most recent one according to scientists.

  • What Eats Polar Bears? | Polar Bear Predators

    Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are apex predators as their super strength puts them at the top of the food chain. They are the arctic’s rulers for no other animal—not even the heaviest of the Arctic’s mammals can dare to rival them. It clearly suggests that polar bears do not have any natural predator in the arctic world.  The polar bear is only one of its kind. But polar bear cubs do have some natural predators in the wild. Let us read more about the polar bear predators to see what animals eat polar bears in the Arctic. 

    What Eats Polar Bears? – Polar Bear Predators

    However powerful polar bears may appear to be there is always one predator that can threaten their survival no matter what. And the predator is no other than human. Bears have long suffered from the brutal nature of humans. Every year 50 to 60 polar bears are hunted—some for food purposes while others for commercial reasons.

    The arctic is no place for humans to live on. That is why very few humans have managed to settle in the most inhospitable place on earth. This is probably a good news for polar bears as their habitat might flourish in the absence of humans.

    Polar Bear Cubs Predators

    Read More: Polar Bear Cub

    While adults are powerful enough to deal with any possible threat the cubs are too weak to possess such strength. The chief predators of polar bear cubs are other mature polar bears especially the males. Male bears are less likely to tolerate a female walking with her cubs except in a situation when the entire family is a unit. When the food is scarce adult bears might kill their cubs and eat them. The cannibalism in polar bears is not rare but it only occurs when the bear is too hungry or far too weak to hunt seals.

    Arctic wolves sometimes find and kill polar bear’s cubs in their den. Mother bears are usually devoted and dedicated parents and she always keeps her yearlings closer to her, however when she goes out to hunt leaving her cubs unattended the predator reaches den to kill them.

    How Do Polar Bears Protect themselves from Predators?

    Main Article: How Do Polar Bears Protect Themselves?

    Polar bears don’t need to protect themselves from predators but if they must they would have camouflaged their white color into the arctic’s snowy background. Even scientists couldn’t recognize polar bears when they were taking shots from the air.

    What Eats Polar Bears? – Polar Bear Predators – Video

  • How Many Polar Bears are left in the World? – Polar Bear Population 2021

    The polar bear population is divided into 19 discrete subpopulations. The global population is poorly studied partly because polar bears have a territory too wide to cover. White bears are not territorial which is why they are present in isolated population in some remote areas. The question as to how many polar bears are left in the world is still unanswered. However global estimates of a population suggest that there are around 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears remaining in the natural habitat.

    How Many Polar Bears are Left in the World?

    The North American population is divided into 13 subpopulations. They live in the Beaufort Sea, Hudson Bay, Western Greenland, and Baffin Bay. The polar bear population in the North America represents 54% of the global population worldwide.

    Arctic bears have circumpolar distribution—living in far off habitats with small populations of about 150 to 200 individuals.

    The sea-ice keeps moving all year round and so as polar bears. The seasonal variation in weather forces bears to adopt a non-territorial behavior. As it turns out, white bears have circumpolar distribution—living in far off habitats with small populations of about 150 to 200 individuals. Another reason for such a vast territory is that adult males must go and find their reproductive partner each year. If they stay in a limited range they won’t be able to reproduce.

    Read More: Are Polar Bears Endangered?

    how many polar bears are left in the world
    Image Courtesy: THE POLAR BEAR PROGRAMME

    Polar Bear Status Worldwide

    While polar bears are classified as threatened species in much of its range the average total population is 20,000 to 25,000 with some believe that numbers may rise up to 31,000 worldwide. The absolute status is not known since bears are unevenly distributed in the Arctic Circle.

    Read More: Polar Bear Conservation Status

    The Chukchi Sea population is estimated to show a declining trend because many polar bears were subject to overharvest in the last 20 years. It’s not possible to assess the population status of six populations (out of 19).

    East Greenland Population

    In the East Greenland (EG) polar bears are found in the Greenland Sea including Fram Strait. Studies however suggest that the population size increases and decreases (each year) in the East Greenland. The bears in Greenland are less likely to migrate to the eastern Svalbard.

    Read More: Are there Polar Bears in Greenland?

    According to the 2003 estimate, there are around 2,000 polar bears living in the southwestern and eastern Greenland but biologists have observed 70 bears to take the population statistics.

    Barents Sea population

    In 2004 the estimated population of bears was around 3,000 which were way too high as compared to the previous ten years. Study suggests that the increase in population size in Barents Sea was mainly due to the ban on hunting in 1973. Furthermore bears in the Svalbard are less likely to migrate whereas those living in the Barents Sea are known to move between Franz Joseph Land and Svalbard.

    In 2004 the estimated population of bears was around 3,000 which were way too high as compared to the previous ten years. Study suggests that the increase in population size in Barents Sea was mainly due to the ban on hunting in 1973.

    Some of the adults in the Kara Sea are thought to overlap with the population size of Barents Sea. Nonetheless, the population of Barents Sea and East Greenland rarely interact with each other. The overall polar bear population has increased because of an absolute ban on hunting in Russia in 1956 and in Norway in 1973.

    Scientists are not able to estimate the population size in the Kara Sea in fact they are quite concerned with the environmental pollution of the Arctic in the Kara Sea. Recent studies indicate that the Kara Sea population is more susceptible to pollution than any other population in the Arctic.

    how many polar bears are left in the world
    Image Courtesy: THE POLAR BEAR PROGRAMME

    Laptev Sea population

    In the Laptev Sea polar bears are spread along the western tip of the East Siberian Sea occupying much of the Laptev Sea as well as Severnaya Zemlya islands and Novosibirsk islands. There are around 800 to 1,200 polar bears living in the Laptev Sea. The population mainly consists of adult female bears because they often visit Novosibirsk islands for denning.

    Chukchi Sea population

    The population size in the Chukchi Sea is known to bears of the northern Bering to as far east as East Siberian Seas. On the western side bears breed along the northeastern Russia in the Chaunskaya Bay. The eastern population is found in Alaska.

    The population status in the Chukchi Sea is either not stable or declining. The harvesting of bears was banned in 1972. The harvesting was reduced to one half in the 90s in Alaska. The bears are partly affected by the climate change and partly by the industrial development.

    Southern Beaufort Sea population

    The southern Beaufort Sea is a range that touches Alaska and a significant portion of Canada. There is an isolated population of polar bears living in the western Alaska and eastern Canada. The unreliable estimate of population in the Southern Beaufort Sea is 1,800. Latest reliable estimates are likely to surface in the coming years.

    Studies show that 1,500 – 1,800 polar bears are surviving in the Icy Cape and Pearce Point. Still scientists believe that the current size might be smaller than these estimates. Prey is not easily available in the Beaufort Sea which might lead to cannibalism in polar bears. Thus the population size decreases with the behavioral shifts.

    Viscount Melville Sound population

    The Viscount Melville Sound is regarded as the arm of the Arctic as it joins several islands ranging from Victoria Island through Barrow Strait all the way to the Beaufort Sea. The present population estimate in the Viscount Melville Sound is 200 to 215 many of which are adult females.

    how many polar bears are left in the world
    Image Courtesy: THE POLAR BEAR PROGRAMME

    Norwegian Bay population

    The Norwegian Bay lies in the Canadian region of the Arctic Ocean. Observation suggests that polar bears live along the coastal ridges and tide cracks. Unfortunately bears in the Norwegian Bay are less likely to prey on ringed seals because the sea-ice is too thick to penetrate. As a result polar bears occur in fewer numbers.

    M’Clintock Channel population

    The M’Clintock Channel is the arm of the Arctic Ocean in Canada (Nunavut). The channel was previously home to 900 – 1,000 polar bears in the mid-1970s however the current estimate decreased to 700 individuals.

    Gulf of Boothia population

    The population size in the Gulf of Boothia was around 333 back in 1970s. The numbers have significantly increased since the last counting. The current estimate is nearly three times the size of population in 70s. Studies show that there are around 900 – 1,523 polar bears living in the Gulf of Boothia.

    Foxe Basin population

    The Foxe Basin population of polar bears lies in the western Hudson Strait and northern Hudson Bay. Bears occur in high densities in the Southampton Island as well as on the Wager Bay during the warmer months. The population estimated in 1996 according to which around 2,119 individuals remaining on the islands. This showed a decrease in size from the mid-70s population. In the early 1970s polar bears’ population were 3,000 but 20 years later 900 polar bears were dead—showing 30% decline. The latest estimates in 2004 showed a marked increase with 2,300 bears inhabiting the Foxe Basin.

    Western Hudson Bay population

    The population size in the Hudson Bay population has long been recognized by the researchers. It is one of the best understood population area of polar bears. Biologists have been able to study more than 80% of adult bears in the western Hudson Bay.

    During warmer months the western population appears to live apart from the southern Hudson Bay population. In winter, however the northern, southern, and western Hudson Bay population seems to concentrate on the ice packs. As a result it becomes difficult to isolate one population from other because all of them are so mixed that they seem like population size.

    In 1987 the polar bear population were 1,194 but in the next 17 years the numbers declined by 22%. The estimates in 2004 showed that only 935 remaining in the western Hudson Bay. The population consists of adult females 65% and adult males 35%.

    Southern Hudson Bay population

    The last estimate of the size of population indicates that there are 900 – 1,000 polar bears inhabiting the southern Hudson Bay. Scientists aren’t sure but they believe that there might be a slight increase in population as compared to previous years.

    Kane Basin population

    The Kane Basin is a waterway and it is located between Ellesmere Islands (Canada) and Greenland. The 180-km-long Arctic waterway is home to only a few polar bears. The estimates of a population in 1994 – 1997 showed that there were fewer than 164 adult bears surviving. The current estimate might be much less than these figures. The Greenland hunters are likely to be reasons of population decline. In Kane Basin 10 polar bears are killed on an average each year.

    Baffin Bay population

    The previous estimates of the bear’s population in mid-80s were 300 – 600 individuals. Recent estimates are probably not reliable because scientists have observed that most polar bears move towards the offshore (in March and April) during spring—making it hard to count. Nonetheless, the later work which was carried in September showed the current size of about 2,074 polar bears.

    Davis Strait population

    The polar bears inhabiting Davis Strait are widely distributed on the eastern Hudson Strait, Labrador Sea, southern Baffin Bay, as well as on the pack ice of the Cape Dyer. The correct estimates were provided by the Canadian Polar Bear Technical Committee in 1993. The Committee suggested the estimate size of about 1,400 polar bears. The figures showed an increase because the survey also included bears that were living offshore pack ice. However the population estimates taken in 2004 counted 1,650 bears in the Davis Strait.

    How Many Polar Bears are Left in the World – Video

  • Do Polar Bears Migrate? | Polar Bear Migration Patterns

    Lately scientists have observed the migration of polar bears in the northwestern Canada, Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea of Alaska. They conclude that polar bears rely on sea ice so much so that they cannot live without the it. They will move with the ice. However the bear’s movement is not so random as scientists previously thought nor do they passively follow the ice movements. Perhaps it’s time to discuss how do polar bears migrate in the tundra. You’d like these interesting polar bear migration facts.

    Do Polar Bears Migrate? – Polar Bear Migration Routes

    • Depends on the region polar bears move in a linear fashion and their movement is far greater than many other terrestrial predators. Polar bears’ close association with the sea ice suggests that the bear has varied productivity patterns and it mainly depends on the habitat characteristics.
    • Biologists calculated the annual distance covered by a polar bear in a straight line and estimated at 6,200 kilometers but averaging 3,415 kilometers. Polar bears typically move at a speed of 4 km/h which they are able to sustain for longer periods.
    • They are thought to cover as much as 50 km/h in a single day. Polar bears walk 50 kilometers without resting.
    • The activity areas of female polar bears are recorded at 149,000 square kilometers. The largest area is estimated at 597,000 km2 whereas the smallest is about 13,000 km2.
    • In the Beaufort Sea polar bears relatively travel more probably due to the dynamic behavior of the sea ice. The average activity area is estimated at 244,463 km2. They will cover 5542 km of mean distance each year.
    • When the ice moves at 15.5 kilometers per day the bear moves at 14.1 kilometers each day. A polar bear always moves against the ice probably due to the fact that it provides grip over the ice.
    do polar bears migrate?
    Scientists haven’t been able to fully understand how polar bears migrate in the tundra. Polar bear migration. Photo by World Journeys

    Polar Bear Movement in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

    • In the Canadian Arctic Archipelago the ice movement is greatest and so as the polar bear’s. In the Davis Strait and Baffin Bay ice bears travel great distances. The unpredictable behavior of the sea ice in Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Baffin Bay makes the polar bear movement predictable. The greater is the volatility of sea ice the greater is the movement of the polar bear.
    • The largest monthly activity in the Beaufort Sea is likely to be observed in June and July as well as in November and December. Polar bear travels the most during these periods. From May to August polar bears largely move towards north whereas in October their direction is towards south. (See in detail: How Do Polar Bears Move?)
    • Polar bear movements decrease in October because the ice begins to freeze in the southern Beaufort Sea. October is probably the first month when the shallow waters will cover with thin ice sheet.
    • Unlike in Beaufort Sea the greatest movement of polar bears inhabiting Viscount Melville Sound is in May to July. They will further increase their movements in January.
    • The summer movements are also high; the reason behind that is the quick retreating of sea ice.

    Read More: Do Polar Bears Hibernate?

    Polar Bear Migration Map

    do polar bears migrate?
    Polar Bear Migration Map. Do polar bears migrate? Photo by Polar Bears International

    Polar Bear Movement in the Viscount Melville Sound

    • In the southern and northern Beaufort Sea the peak movements occur in November and December. Polar bear movements become lowest in May.
    • During winter in Viscount Melville Sound polar bears do not appear to move much. This is because of the occurrence of thick ice sheet. However ringed seals are present in fewer numbers in Viscount Melville Sound as compared to those in Alaska or West Greenland.
    • In the Viscount Melville Sound ringed seals live in tidal cracks and pressure ridges and they find it difficult to come to the surface for breathing because the water is covered with multilayered ice sheet. On the contrary the ice in the southern Beaufort Sea seems to be volatile allowing seals to breathe with ease.
    • As it turns out polar bears in the Beaufort Sea spend much of their time foraging for seals whereas those living in the Viscount Melville Sound are known to rest and conserve energy.
    • Nonetheless, polar bears inhabiting the Viscount Melville Sound have one advantage over the Beaufort Sea bears that is, the predictable behavior of sea ice in the Viscount Melville Sound.
    • The ice in the Viscount Melville Sound doesn’t appear to move much which means that bears can predict the precise areas for hunting seals in early winter. Same is not the case with bears living in the Beaufort Sea because they cannot identify the hunting areas due to changing character of the sea ice.
    • The constant change in the ice of Beaufort Sea and Baffin Bay requires polar bears to be more creative. Polar bears must learn to devise new foraging strategies each passing month or even day.

    Do Polar Bears Migrate? – Polar Bear Migration – Video

  • Polar Bear Metabolism | Internal Body Temperature of a Polar Bear

    The typical range of an average temperature in polar bears is around 36.5 – 38.8 °C (97.7 – 101.8 °F). They are thought to use numerous physiological and behavioral mechanisms to normalize temperature. However recent findings indicate that the ice bears find it difficult to slow down their metabolism during summer when the food is scarce. The pregnant female bear appears to show a progressive form of behavioral thermoregulation which is mainly described by a cyclic establishment of microclimate. Let’s study polar bear metabolism in detail.

    They rarely adapt to surviving in warmer months because dormancy (sort of hibernation) doesn’t seem to last long. Due to rapid climate change many ice bears are forced to live on land. The ashore bears appear to lose a reasonable amount of body heat as well as they reduce their activity in summer. However scientists made the same discovery of behavior in bears that are living on the sea ice. ‘The polar bears acted more like fasting humans than like hibernating brown or black bears’, said John Whiteman.

    Polar Bear Metabolism

    • The increasing global warming has hit polar bears the hardest. It has not only forced the bear to leave its habitat but reduces its foraging opportunities. As it turns out bears spend more time on land in summer.
    • Earlier scientists thought that ice bears were able to adjust to summer months by gradually slowing their metabolism—reducing the risk of energy loss. Scientists refer to this adaptation or behavioral change as walking hibernation.
    • Findings suggest that walking hibernation is not an innovative change in polar bear’s behavior instead it is typical fasting behavior in mammals. Thus the recent studies oppose the early hypothesis of scientists. It
    • also implies that ice bears do not possess any action reserve specifically for summer food scarcity. Instead she might starve to death if climate continues to change at the current pace.

    Read More: Polar Bear Digestive System

    polar bear metabolism Polar Bear Temperature

    • The average temperature in adult bears range from 37.5 to 38.3 °C (99.6 to 101.0 °F). In captivity the temperature averages range 37.2 – 38.4 °C (99 – 101 °F). The temperature of a polar bear wandering in the Arctic is about 36.5 °C.
    • Scientists measure the deep body temperature in bears that fall asleep in cloudy weather at 36.8o C whereas individuals that become inactive in a bright sunny day shows the temperature of 38.8o C.
    • Research also shows that there is a slight variation in temperature when the bear is busy in certain activities. For instance if a polar bear digs den or eat snow the body temperature goes high (especially with the increasing pulse rate). Ice bears usually eat snow minutes after copulation.
    • Biologists observed areas of a polar bear’s skin that are almost always exposed to the sunlight. The temperature of these unprotected areas found to be higher than the core temperature.
    • The arctic temperature mostly ranges from +7.5 to -29.5 °C but the central body temperature of a bear is estimated at 36.9 +/- 0.5 °C. The resting polar bears have central body temperature of about 36.9o C.
    • During fall when the sea ice melts and the bear couldn’t prey seals, the metabolic rate is reduced to 33.5o C. By so doing polar bears can cope with the fasting months.
    • The temperature in adult females during denning averages 35.4 – 37.2 °C. When female bears enter into dormancy state (hibernation) the estimated temperature significantly drops by about 73%. They have got the ability to reduce metabolic rate by half.

    Metabolic Rate in the Maternity Den

    • Female polar bears are blessed with unique ability to diminish their metabolic rate during maternity den which ultimately increases the likelihood of her survival on available fats. The reduction in metabolic rate doubles the survival time of a female bear. (See in detail: Polar Bear Den)
    • Scientists however believe that the given energy-saving technique doesn’t always increase the chances of her survival for there are numerous other factors that can make her to consume energy. These factors include lactation, quality of the den site, pregnancy, and looking after the cubs.
    • Sometimes it happens that females take more time than usual to dig dens in winter. The unusually extensive digging is likely to check metabolic reductions. If she chooses an unsuitable denning site then she probably starves which can adversely affect the survival of her cubs.

    Polar Bear Metabolism – Video

  • Polar Bear Life Cycle | Life Cycle of a Polar Bear from Birth to Death

    A life cycle involves several phases that come into the life of every living organism. The life cycle of a polar bear involves five stages. The initial stages are quite critical since bears are more likely to be vulnerable than the advanced phases. The bear has a complicated life cycle and scientists faced extreme difficulty in studying it because one-third of the females return to their den during breeding months. They will continue to care for their young in the first two to three years after birth. It’s time to know what is the life cycle of a polar bear.

    Polar Bear Life Cycle

    Birth

    The polar bear gives birth during spring season and the baby polar bears are called cubs. Normally twins are born but three are also not uncommon. Cubs are born helpless without hair, without teeth, and without sight. As a matter of fact they are not insulated with dense hair. They are deaf with nearly the size of a chipmunk. The birth occurs in between October and January.

    First Two Years

    The first year of a polar bear cub is thought to be the most important time not only for the cub but also for its mother. The mother bear needs to look after her cub almost all the time and she barely leaves it unattended. Whenever she goes out to hunt she takes cub along with her (not for training though). When the cub gets tired it just mounts on the mother’s back especially during swimming. The mother bear rarely allows her cub to swim because her insulating fur is not properly developed at this stage.

    Adolescence

    When cubs emerge from the den they are able to walk on their own but remain under the watchful eye of their mother. But they will spend months in playing, fighting, and running around the corner until they reach 2 years age. Breast feeding occurs at this stage as cubs enjoy calorie-rich milk. This is the end of a second phase for polar bear.

    At this phase polar bears become 3 years of age. They can now eat solid food and look for their mother’s hunting methods. However cubs will continue to rely on their mother for feeding. Once they are done eating food, cubs will return to the den.

    Adulthood

    During adulthood phase the polar bears learn how to survive the hostile arctic environment where food is not easily accessible. Ice bears are solitary creatures and they must now swim, play, hunt, and walk alone after reaching adulthood. Polar bears are sexually dimorphic animals. Males are significantly greater and heavier than females. Adult bears will often fight other bears and are capable to run as fast as 40 km/h only in short bursts. After eating seals, their muzzle becomes all red due to seal’s blood which is why they dive into the water and swim for about 15 – 20 minutes to clean them up.

    Mating

    At this stage adult bears go and find their mating partner in suitable breeding months. Polar bears become sexually mature at 5 years age. Once they achieve the reproductive age the males begin to look for the females by following her tracks. White bears mate in April or May. If there are two males for one female then both (males) will probably fight to win over the female. Mature males will fight hard but not hard enough to kill each other. The fight may end up in broken bones or jaws. The loser is likely to run away while the dominant male mates.

    If there are two males for one female then both (males) will probably fight to win over the female.

    Male bears, just like other mammals, mount the female from behind. However the ovulation doesn’t begin immediately. Many attempts occur before the egg is finally fertilized. Once pregnant the female is going to eat a lot just to make sure she stores enough fat for winter.

    Death

    Polar bears deaths are caused by numerous ways such as disease, accidents, climate change, and hunting. The Inuit (local hunters) have long hunted ice bears for centuries. Many bears couldn’t reach the adulthood primarily because other polar bears kill them or even eat them. Studies confirm the cannibalism behavior in polar bears. Prominent among the causes is human hunting which has threatened few polar bear population. Apart from human hunting the polar bear death is also caused by eating contaminated foods which occur due to the water pollution.

    Polar Bear Life Cycle – Polar Bear Birth Video

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  • Polar Bear is the Largest Carnivore – Is the Polar Bear the Largest Bear?

    Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest carnivorous land mammal living today. The only other bear nearly the size of polar bear is her close relative Kodiak brown bear. Scientists aren’t sure which one is bigger. Biologists also refer polar bear as a marine mammal because the bear spends so much of its time in water. Polar bears love to swim and they are outstanding swimmers. Unlike any other bear species, arctic bears can swim for days without stopping. In this article we are going to compare the polar bear’s size with some of the largest land mammals such as Siberian tiger and Kodiak brown bear.

    Polar Bear is the Largest Carnivorous Mammal

    Siberian tigers are some of the biggest carnivores with the maximum weight of about 465 kilograms. Yet another terrestrial species is Kodiak brown bear that weighs up to 751 kilograms. Siberian tigers and Kodiak bears are one of the largest mammals in the animal kingdom but polar bear exceeds all of them in weight. The largest male polar bear weighs as much as 1,002 kg (2,209 lb) kilograms which qualify it as the largest terrestrial land mammal.

    Tallest Mammal

    The large Kodiak Brown reaches the height of about 9 ft 8 in. whereas polar bears can have the height of about 11 ft 1 in. A male Siberian tiger is 11 feet tall. The maximum shoulder height of adult polar bears is 5 ft 3 in while Siberian tigers are only 50 inches in shoulder height. The Kodiak bears are extremely close to the polar bear’s height at about 4.9 feet at the shoulder.

    polar bear is the largest carnivorous land mammal
    An adult male polar bear is twice the size of an adult female polar bear. Polar bear is the largest carnivorous land mammal. Photo by Natural Habitat Adventures

    Polar Bears are Extraordinarily Powerful

    Unlike any other terrestrial carnivorans polar bears are super powerful. The polar bear’s skull and neck are strong enough to pull 600 pounds prey out of water. This implies that icy bears are so much muscular that they are able drag the prey nearly the size of their own. No other mammal—not even the Siberian tiger or Kodiak brown bears are comparable in strength to the polar bear’s powerful neck. Although the brown bear’s skull is greater than that of polar bear’s yet the latter possess narrower skull because it allows her to reach the prey hidden into the sea ice.

    Polar Bears possess Strongest Claws

    Kodiak brown bears are quite closer to polar bears in strength but they are overshadowed by the arctic bears in terms of claws’ strength. Polar bears have arguably the strongest claws which are stronger than the Kodiak bears and heavier than the black bears.

    Polar Bear is teh

  • How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm?

    Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are unquestionably resilient to the arctic environment. Their adaptation to stay warm in an unbelievably cold temperature is something that makes them matchless in the mammalian world. Thanks to its insulating ability, white color, and dense fur that not only makes the bear warm but also camouflages her in the arctic ice. The thick and fuzzy jacket prevents the polar bear from catching cold in the icy water.

    How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm?

    The insulating phenomenon of polar bears is not as simple but scientists are putting their best to reason out how polar bears can stay warm in such a freezing temperature of the Arctic Circle. Latest findings suggest that polar bear’s hairs are likely to perform the functions of a heat pipeline. According to scientists as the sunlight touches the tiny hair it travels to the end and enters the polar bear’s skin. They believe that the bear’s hair seems like fiber-optic cable in function.

    Thanks to its insulating ability, white color, and dense fur that not only makes the bear warm–it also camouflages her in the arctic ice

    There is a scientific belief that the polar bear’s coat serves as a protector in that it attempts to bring warm particles of the air into tiny pores. However the modern studies suggest that the pelt also performs another insulating function. This function is performed within the polar bear’s coat. Polar bear’s skin emits the body heat as infrared light which in turn bounces around within the coat just like a table tennis ball. The infrared rays are thought to move back and forth between the hairs. According to the research the bear’s hair neither absorbs light nor does it scatter light absolutely. In fact they partially perform both.

    Biologists maintain that the density of hairs is what actually defines the reflection of light. If the hair density is greater the light reflects many times with some of it returns back to the skin.

    Read More: Polar Bear Physical Features

    how do polar bears stay warm
    Image Courtesy: The Sun

    How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm in the cold?

    Polar bears appear to make themselves warm via three kinds of heat transfer: convection, conduction, and thermal radiation. Conduction is the process in which the heat waves travel through the medium but the materials do not move whereas in convection the movement is primarily caused within a fluid. However the most useful (of these) is thought to be the thermal radiation.

    Scientists have long believed that the hot air traps inside the polar bear’s body in the same way as it does in some housing insulations. The coat performs the given function.

    Thermal Radiation

    Scientists seem to count on thermal radiation as compared to convection or conduction. According to them polar bears use thermal radiation to keep warm in the cold. In thermal radiation the energy is discharged in the form of electromagnetic waves. Human’s skin gets heated in the similar fashion. Similarly if someone wears a shiny jacket the heat waves radiate from the human body is likely to smack the jacket and scatter while keeping the heat inside.

    All living organisms release heat which can be seen through night-vision goggles. The goggles are able to detect the infrared radiation but polar bears are so perfectly insulated that no such radiation or heat is observed even through goggles. The heat is trapped 100% inside the bear’s body. The polar bear’s pelt appears to possess the same temperature as its surroundings.

    Scientists finally conclude that the polar bear fur partially absorbs heat radiation and partially scatters it. The heat waves are thought to travel in different directions after being scattered and re-emitted. The sunlight doesn’t believe to keep bears warm in fact it is the scattering of light off the fur that warms the animal. “The more animal reflects the [infrared] light, the more efficient the insulation”, American Institute of Physics.

    Read More: How Many Layers of Fur Do Polar Bears have?

    how do polar bears stay warm
    Fred Lemire — National Geographic Your Shot

    Heat Loss and Heat Regulation—During Swimming

    The latissimus dorsi are the muscle sheets which lies at the mid-central back of the body. These sheets play a significant role in the heat regulation. During swimming the heat is discharged through conduction whereas on land the heat is primarily lost by convection. Above the surface polar bears often lie on the back and wave their legs in the air to cool her body. In order to stable body temperature bears will drink water in excess.

    Polar bears may also change to sternal posture in which they move their feet backwards or sometimes curling paws around their body. By so doing bears can reduce their temperature from 36o C to 27o C.

    On the icy surface, polar bears spread their legs so that their body releases heat. On land when polar bears are overheated they just dig small depressions and relax into it.

    The heat loss during swimming is extremely important because the bear generates heat in the submerged water which in turn is probably neutralized by the heat loss.

    While polar bear’s fur shows outstanding insulating property the pelt seems to have poor insulative ability. They will maintain stable body temperature by bringing change in subdermal vascularization and other adaptive mechanisms in order to compete with the cool environmental conditions. The subcutaneous fat also serves as insulating material. Bears lose additional heat via foot pads and shoulders.

    The polar bear’s fur is 55 mm in thickness which is pretty fair insulation. However some of the hairs are rough and they do not insulate heat as effectively. During swimming polar bears lose heat 20 – 25 times faster than in the open air. But in disturbed water the bear is likely to lose heat nearly 50 times that in the air.

    The heat loss during swimming is extremely important because the bear generates heat in the submerged water which in turn is probably neutralized by the heat loss. Soon after swimming the bear shakes her body to shed the water from her fur in order to make sure that the pelt insulates properly. Polar bear’s posture and respiration also affects the heat loss phenomena.

    Polar bears are highly efficient in finding out numerous biological mechanisms to cope with the heat loss. One such adaptation is that they can cool their external tissues which create an insulating shell and their body goes warm. This is known as regional heterothermy. According to the researchers, white bears (by doing so) prevent the extreme heat loss during swimming in the icy water. The bear must adopt this mechanism on almost regular basis for the melting of arctic ice indeed makes swimming harder and longer.

    The peripheral muscles and subcutaneous fat serve as important insulators especially during swimming. Polar bear’s fur doesn’t appear to insulate well in water in fact the bear finds shelter in a windy weather. They will also discharge heat through the thin muscle sheets which are present on the torso. Alongside torso bears also lose heat via snout and footpads. The significant player in the peripheral insulation is the peripheral tissue without which the insulation might never be possible.

    During swimming the skin temperature is relatively higher. The heat dissipation often puts check on the polar bear’s ability to engage in physical activities for long periods. For instance bears can hardly perform exercise for more than 15 minutes.

    how do polar bears stay warm
    Daisy Gilardini — National Geographic Your Shot

    Polar Bear Cubs Insulation and Temperature

    Read More: Polar Bear Cub

    At birth the polar bear cubs have only 5-mm-long coat and there are only 600 – 700 hairs per square centimeter. They don’t seem to cover with subcutaneous fat nor do the fats surround kidneys. They are not yet prepared to challenge the freezing environment of the Arctic.

    Once they attain weight of about 8.5 – 9.5 kilograms they can stable their body temperature 30o C to 0o C with a slight increase in the metabolic rate in temperatures below 10 degree centigrade. However weak polar bear cubs may be as against adults the physiological insulation is good enough to sustain constant temperature while swimming.

    During swimming the water temperature ranges from 0 – 2o C but the core body temperature of a cub is stabilized at 38.5o C. If cubs keep walking for as long as 29 minutes their temperature alleviates to 400 C.

    How Do Polar Bears Stay Warm? – Video

  • Why Do People Hunt Polar Bears?

    Polar bears have long been the victims of human hunting. Humans hunt bears for several purposes such as sports, trading in skin, fur, polar bear trophy, or simply for polar bear food. The international agreement says that only the native people are allowed to hunt polar bears. It’s up to the indigenous people if they want to kill white bears for sports, trophy, food, or for trading.

    Why Do People Hunt Polar Bears in Canada?

    In Canada, the lottery issues legal permits to kill polar bears according to which winners may keep the bear’s meat but must sell the polar bear’s pelt for $10,000. The permits are issued in the western Hudson Bay (Inuit village). Many non-indigenous hunters will also purchase polar bear tags. Every year indigenous hunters kill 50 – 60 polar bears.

    Conservationists on the other hand discourage legal or illegal hunting of polar bears worldwide let alone Canada. They maintain that indigenous hunters are more responsible for the population decline than the climate change.

    Over the past few decades the native hunting has become a serious threat of vulnerable species. The Canadian government is likely to impose permanent ban on polar bear skin trade. Hunters in the Nunavut have agreed to reduce the bear hunting. They will hunt 40 – 45 polar bears each year instead of 60.

    Hunting of Polar Bears in Greenland

    Read More: Polar Bears in Greenland

    In the earlier days there were no restrictions on polar bear hunting whatsoever. In fact the one who kills the bear is often rewarded. If a person came across a bear in East Greenland and North-West he had rights to shot the animal. The practice continued for years and passed to next generations. As it turned out everyone shot bears until in mid-60s when only expert hunters were permitted to kill polar bears.

    Read More: How Many Polar Bears are Left in the World?

    There is an old tradition in Greenland that the first person to sight polar bear is going to take skin and meat (of the bear). It doesn’t matter who kills it, the animal belongs to the first observer. Even today the tradition is alive. In East Greenland, North Greenland, and South Greenland polar bears are hunted nearly every month by indigenous people. In the East and North Greenland professional hunters kill white bears in winter. However in South Greenland, hunters are not professionals they just find one along the way and shot bears on the sea ice.

    why do people hunt polar bears
    Image Courtesy: mashable.com

    Polar Bear Hunting in the United States

    The Marine Mammal Protection Act, 1972 forbade common men to hunt polar bears. Under the Act only native people who live on the coastal homes are allowed to hunt bears. The permission is so granted because natives rely on bear’s meat for consumption. However the Act makes sure that the bear is neither hunted for sports nor does its meat go in vain. Besides, the authorities estimate the optimum level of polar bear population so that the animal does not become endangered.

    Can you Hunt Polar Bears in Alaska?

    Yes and probably no! It is absolutely illegal to shoot polar bears in Alaska. However the Alaskan natives or Eskimos are allowed to hunt. They can kill white bears legally. These natives are called Eskimos. The Eskimos live on the coastal areas of North Pacific Ocean and they harvest bears for surviving. Their life depends on it. Still the Alaskan natives must enroll themselves under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. A person who has not enrolled under the Act cannot hunt bears even if he is an Aleuts.

    The authorities have not imposed any limit on the number of bears to be harvested so long as the harvest doesn’t end up in waste. Eskimos can harvest polar bears any time in a year.

    The Alaskan hunters must also report polar bear’s skull and hides to Fish and Wildlife Service no more than a month after the kill.

    The native people are legally permitted to sell polar bear’s meat in the Alaskan village.

    Polar Bear Hunting in Russia

    Russia is one of few countries where no one is allowed to hunt polar bears—not even aborigines. Nonetheless, the law is likely to be changed in future in order to permit natives to kill bears. Despite the regulation local people have continued hunting ice bears for their sustenance depends on polar bear hunting. The Russian government believes that if hunting were made legal people would kill bears for money.

    Why do people kill polar bears?

    Some people such as professional hunters kill polar bears for sports while others (like aborigines) hunt for survival. In the northwest Greenland, Qaanaaq people kill white bears partly for trading purposes and partly for consumption. The aborigines are thought to sell bear’s skin, skull, hide, and claws in the village market. They will not sell it outside the village market. The native people also eat bear’s meat.

    Do People Eat Polar Bear Meat?

    Yes people do eat polar bear meat. These people are mostly aborigines who live along the coastal habitats. Aborigines often hunt polar bears for multiple purposes including consumption.

    Is it Illegal to Kill Polar Bears?

    No it’s not as long as you’re one of the natives or Eskimos. Eskimos are legally allowed to hunt polar bears but if anyone from outside shoots the bear he/she is deemed to have violated the law.

    How many Polar Bears are Hunted Each Year?

    While it is difficult to estimate the number of polar bears hunted each year, biologists believe that each year people (including natives) kill 60 – 70 polar bears.

    Why Do People Kill Polar Bears? – Video

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