Polar Bears

In the coastal waters of the Arctic ice sheet, polar bears, the largest bears in the world, wander and swim. They are very strong swimmers, and they have slightly webbed wide front paws that they use to paddle. Some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from shore, but floating on sheets of ice is likely to cover much of the distance.

For traveling, hunting, sleeping, mating and, in some places, building motherly dens, polar bears rely heavily on sea ice. But polar bears living in the Arctic were identified as a vulnerable species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008 because of the current and possible destruction of their sea ice habitat arising from climate change. When their habitat of sea ice recedes early in the spring and forms later in the fall, polar bears have to spend longer times on land, sometimes forced to places where people live. It is estimated than only 22,000 to 31,000 polar bears remain in the wild.

Several organizations have taken the mission of protecting endangered polar bears into their own hands. These organizations include:

• Polar Bears International: https://polarbearsinternational.org/

• International Association for Bear Research and Management: bearbiology.org

• Uproar: https://www.theuproar.com/polar-bears-international

General Information about Polar Bears:

The world's biggest bear and the top predator in the Arctic, polar bears are a symbol of the Arctic's strength and resilience. The Latin name of the polar bear, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear." It is a fitting name for this magnificent animal, which spends most of its life on the sea ice, mainly in, near, or on the ocean. Alaska is home to two subpopulations of polar bears in the United States. Considered skilled swimmers, by paddling with their front paws and keeping their hind legs flat like a rudder, polar bears can maintain a speed of six miles per hour. They have a thick layer of body fat and a coat that is water-repellent, insulating them from cold air and water. Over 50 percent of their time is spent searching for food. Depending on the time of year and other factors, a polar bear might capture just one or two out of 10 seals it hunts. Since they need large quantities of fat to survive, their diet consists primarily of ringed and bearded seals.

Click on this link to watch a video about Polar Bears: Polar Bears 101