Polar Bear Facts

Even though a polar bears fur looks white it is actually colorless and is made with hollow tubes that scatter light and give a white appearance. The hollow tubes help the bear to stay warm by channeling the sun's energy directly to the bear's skin.

Only pregnant females polar bears hibernate.

Polar bear fur is oily and water repellent. The hairs don't mat when wet, allowing the polar bears to easily shake free of water and any ice that may form after swimming.

Polar bears live along shores and on sea ice in the icy cold Arctic.

The polar bear is classified as a marine mammal. Its feet are partially webbed for swimming, and its fur is water-repellent.

The polar bear rivals the Kodiak bear as the largest four-footed carnivore on Earth and can live up to 25 years.

Most bears have few natural enemies except for humans.

Male polar bears are 8 to 11 feet long and weigh 500 to 1,100 pounds but can reach as much as 1,500 pounds.

Polar bears are strictly carnivores and feed or scavenge only meat.

Female polar bears measure 6 to 8 feet long and weigh from 350 to 600 pounds, occasionally reaching 700 pounds.

Polar bears can be found in the United States, Canada, Russia, Greenland and on the Arctic islands of Norway

Polar bears depend mostly on their sense of smell to determine the location of prey.

The polar bear's entire body is furred, even the bottom of its paws.

The scientific name for the polar bear is Ursus maritimus, which means 'Sea Bear' in Greek.

Scientists estimate there are approximately 35,000 polar bears in the world.

Male polar bears generally weigh around 1,000 pounds

The average age of a polar bear in the wild is 17 years

When a polar bear cub is born it can not see or hear for approximately a month.

Polar bears have been known to swim more than 60 miles without a rest.

Polar bears have been spotted on sea ice hundreds of miles from shore.

Polar bears primarily eat seals.

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