- Polar bears are the world’s biggest land carnivores. The largest on record was found in Alaska and weighed 2,200 pounds - that’s over a ton!
- The soles of a polar bear’s feet have small papillae and vacuoles that act like suction cups to make them less likely to slip on the ice.
- Female polar bears are about half the size of males and normally weigh 440 to 660 pounds, but can exceed 1,100 pounds when pregnant due to stored fat.
- In late spring, wind and currents create cracks in the Arctic sea ice that concentrate the seals that polar bears hunt.
- Climate change represents the largest threat to polar bears because they need Arctic sea ice in order to hunt.
- In areas where the ice melts completely during the late summer and fall, polar bears spend those months resting on land and waiting for the freeze-up.
- The farthest south that polar bears live all year round is James Bay in Canada, which is about the same latitude as London, England.
- Polar bears have low reproductive rates. Most female polar bears only reproduce once every three years with small litters of typically two cubs.
- Polar bears are the most carnivorous of all bears and eat almost exclusively seals during the winter.
- Despite their striking appearance, panda bears actually have excellent camoflage. Their white and black coat blends in very well with their snowy enviorment.
- Panda bears are excellent swimmers and are also great at climbing trees.
- Panda bears use an extended wrist bone like a thumb to help them grip food.
- Pandas spend much of their time eating or looking for food, around 10-16 hours per day!
- A panda's diet is 99% comprised of vegetation (almost exclusively bamboo). However, since their digestive system is typical of a carnivore, the remaining 1% of their diet can include eggs, small animals and carrion.
- Pandas sometimes do handstands when they pee. They will climb a tree backwards with their hind feet first, allowing them to to leave their scent higher up.
- The sun bear is the world's smallest bear, weighing between 55-143lbs.
- Ironically, sun bears are nocturnal.
- The sun bear is named for the white/golden crescent shape on its chest, which is said to resemble the rising sun.
- Brown bears will nurse their young for up to 3 years, which varies based on how long the cubs are dependent on the mother's milk.
- Brown bears can be identified by the large hump on their back, an extra muscle that helps them dig for food and excavate dens for hibernation in the winter.
- Grizzly bears, kodiak bears and brown bears are all the same species (Ursus arctos), though kodiak bears and grizzly bears are currently considered to be separate subspecies.
- The sloth bear is native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It relies largely on ants and termites as a food source.
- Sloth bears are the only species of bear known to routinely carry cubs on their backs.
- The north american black bear is the most common species of bear in North America, followed by brown bears and polar bears.
- The spectacled bear got its name because of markings on its face that look like glasses, though not all spectacled bears display this characteristic trait.
- The spectacled bear is the only bear species native to South America.
- The specticaled bear is mostly vegetarian, though about 5% of their diet consists of meat.
- Throughout most of the year male polar bears are solitary individuals, but are known to become quite social during summer months.
- Polar bears have large overlapping home ranges but do not defend territories.
- Polar bears usually give birth to twin cubs. Although litters of three or more cubs have been documented, they are not as prevalent.
- Polar bear cubs typically stay with their mothers for about 2.5 years, which is why most female polar bears only reproduce once every three years.
- Female polar bears' infrequent reproductive cycle leads to intense competition for mates among males.
- The hair shafts in polar bear fur are actually hollow.
- Polar bears don't like to run far distances. Running polar bears can easily overheat because of their large size, stored fat, and thick, insulating fur.
- During winter, when the polar ice pack extends further south, some polar bears move as far south as Newfoundland - returning north as it recedes in summer.
- Only pregnant polar bears den for extended periods. Their heart rate and temperature do not decrease as much as other hibernating bears, which helps cubs stay warm.
- Polar bear cubs have fluffier fur that provides better insulation in dry air, but does not keep them as warm when wet.
- Polar bears are considered marine mammals (like seals, whales, and otters). They are the only bear species that is labeled as a marine mammal.
- Under all the white fur, polar bear skin is actually black.
- There are nineteen different populations of polar bears worldwide.
- Polar bears can't see the color green due to their dichromatic vision (humans have trichromatic vision), and evolutionarily don't need to given their Arctic environment.
- Just like most people, most polar bears sleep 7-8 hours at a stretch—and are known to take naps too.
- Polar bears are strong swimmers, they use their large front paws to paddle, and hold their hind legs flat like a rudder.
- Polar bears can't see the color green due to their dichromatic vision (humans have trichromatic vision), and evolutionarily don't need to given their Arctic environment.
- The farthest south that polar bears live all year round is James Bay in Canada, which is about the same latitude as London, England.
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Educational resources.
Bears are one of the world’s most interesting animals, and there's so much to learn about them.
