Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are sometimes within the information because the “poster animals” of local weather change, however exterior of the truth that they’re huge, look white (sure, that “look” half is necessary!), and their habitat is in extreme hazard, what else do most individuals actually find out about them?
Listed here are eight information about polar bears that may depart you much more enamored with these beastly beauties. There’s undoubtedly much more to those Arctic-dwelling bears than what most wildlife lovers know.
Witness the most important gathering of untamed polar bears every fall in Churchill, Manitoba, on a Nat Hab Polar Bear journey!
1. Polar bears typically share meals with Arctic foxes
You may suppose an enormous, gnarly, hungry polar bear would gobble up any animal that got here shut. However nope—environment friendly polar bears in regular situations are likely to solely eat animals with plenty of high-calorie fatty blubber (is smart why they’ve a choice for marine animals).
When meals is ample, they gained’t contact Arctic foxes and sometimes even share meals with them. The polar bear has what’s known as a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with Arctic foxes. The polar bear, after gnawing on the blubber of a marine animal, will normally depart the meaty a part of the carcass behind. Arctic foxes observe polar bears and scavenge on these stays.
They’re additionally well mannered sharers amongst themselves. After they have entry to bigger marine mammals similar to beluga whales, there could be over 3,000 kilos of meals to share amongst a gaggle of polar bears. When one polar bear needs to share one other bear’s meals, they’ll slowly circle their manner towards them and gently contact noses to ask if they will share.
2. Polar bears are the one carnivorous bears
Though most bears are omnivores, which means that they dwell off a eating regimen of each animals and crops, there isn’t precisely an abundance of plants within the Arctic tundra. Polar bears are carnivorous, and their major eating regimen is ringed and bearded seals.
That being mentioned, polar bears are opportunistic hunters, and in the summertime, once they can’t hunt seals, they are going to at instances flip to different meals sources to outlive. This will embody birds, terrestrial mammals and even vegetation similar to algae and berries. Because of this, some scientists favor to categorise them as hypercarnivores—animals whose diets are composed of greater than 70% meat. However in excellent polar bear situations, they might fortunately munch on solely seals, and that will be that!
An lively polar bear can burn by means of 12,325 energy per day. That equates to a feminine having to eat both one massive grownup seal, three small grownup seals or nineteen new child seal pups each week and a half simply to take care of her physique mass. I can’t even think about what number of crops they must eat to cowl their caloric wants!
3. If you happen to occur to be a misplaced arctic explorer, suppose twice about consuming polar bear meat
Though it’s unlawful for most individuals to hunt polar bears, there are some exceptions for Indigenous populations which have relied on them as a supply of meals for a lot of tons of of years. However they must know what they’re doing. Polar bear meat should be very properly cooked, because it usually is stuffed with Trichinella spiralis parasites. These trigger trichinosis, which in extreme instances could cause loss of life.
Consuming polar bear liver can be extremely harmful, as a result of it’s so excessive in vitamin A that it might trigger hypervitaminosis A in people—a freaky, lethal illness that may trigger your hair to fall out and your pores and skin to peel. Previously, many hungry explorers who in all probability celebrated earlier than they feasted later died from consuming uncooked polar bear meat.
© Brad Josephs
4. The distances polar bears can swim are nearly unbelievable
As a result of they prey on seals and whales, it shouldn’t come as any big shock that polar bears are respectable swimmers. However between their huge, barely webbed paws and a hole outer layer of fur that provides them added buoyancy, they’re really wonderful swimmers. They must be, as they migrate lengthy distances by water when transferring from the melting sea ice to islands or the mainland.
Every migration is over 100 miles on common, however there are polar bears on report for having traveled greater than 425 miles in a single swim. That’s greater than 9 days straight—3 times the longest distance ever swum without delay by a human!
5. Polar bears aren’t really white
Wait, what? Yup, it’s true. Polar bears have two layers of fur. One is a brief undercoat, and one is made up of longer “guard hairs.” Whereas it might sound by taking a look at a polar bear that these hairs are white, they’re really translucent. They solely look white as a result of they replicate the daylight.
© Brad Josephs
Generally on our Polar Bear adventures, we see polar bears below a grey sky, they usually seem grey. At sundown, they will have a tinge of pink to them. They will additionally even seem inexperienced in captivity: Tough concrete pens could cause tiny holes to kind within the guard hairs, letting algae in to develop, particularly when they’re stored in hotter climates.
One other enjoyable reality: Whereas all different bears have pink pores and skin beneath their fur, polar bears even have black pores and skin. This helps them retain warmth in chilly Arctic climes.
6. Polar bears have probably the most delicate sniffers of any land mammal
Polar bears can hear a barely wider vary of frequencies than people (as much as 25 kHz), and their eyesight can be just like that of people (though they do have a protecting membrane over their eyes that helps protect them from ultraviolet mild). However polar bears’ sense of scent is an entire different matter.
In accordance with the parents at Guinness World Data, polar bears have probably the most delicate noses of any mammal that lives on land. They will scent prey as much as 20 miles away! Even when an animal is hiding below three ft of dense snow, they will’t conceal from a polar bear. The bear will scent them with no downside.
7. Feminine polar bears can provide start to cubs from totally different fathers on the identical time
Polar bears are polygynous and infrequently ever mate with the identical bear in numerous years. And male polar bears are undoubtedly not paternal. After mating, the male will solely hang around with the feminine for just a few days earlier than leaving. The feminine does what she needs as properly, usually mating with one other associate throughout the identical breeding season. This will find yourself along with her giving start to offspring from totally different fathers on the identical time.
© Colby Brokvist
Though most polar bears don’t hibernate like different species of bear (they spend winter on the ocean ice looking seals and build up their fats reserves for the food-scarce summer time on the mainland), pregnant polar bears do enter a hibernation-like state. They go into their dens round October, with cubs being born round 60 days later. They keep of their dens for round seven to eight months till the cubs can depart. Throughout this time, they continue to be in a lowered metabolic state the place they don’t eat, drink, urinate or defecate to save lots of vitality.
8. Sadly, the polar bear is the poster animal for local weather change for good motive
It’s no secret that polar bears are dealing with severe threats from the altering local weather.
Polar bears depend on the Arctic sea ice to entry seals, whales and different marine mammals for meals. They have to construct up their fatty reserves earlier than heading to the food-scarce mainland or islands for the summer time. Nevertheless, with the ocean ice melting earlier and earlier every year, they don’t have sufficient time to construct up these very needed fatty reserves.
© Lianne Thompson
Regardless of the apparent incontrovertible fact that they might simply hunt people in the event that they wished, polar bears attempt to keep away from confrontation. A evaluation of assaults by polar bears on people between 1970 and 2014 reported solely 20 deaths throughout their complete vary, together with Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia and america. However local weather change might combine issues up and make hungry polar bears determined. Malnourished bears are the most definitely to assault people at campsites and Inuit settlements.
Bonus Truth: You may see them (safely and sustainably!) for your self
Scientists now estimate that there are fewer than 26,000 polar bears left within the wild, and given the present state of environmental affairs, they could be extinct by the top of the century. If you happen to’re excited about seeing these stunning creatures within the wild, there’s no higher time than now.
You may be ok with your half in sustainable tourism, as we associate with World Wildlife Fund. WWF has spent a few years working with tourism operators in areas inhabited by polar bears to seek out methods to not solely restrict the impression of vacationers on the bears and their habitat but in addition contribute to conservation efforts. The results of their work was a powerful and clear set of rules for Arctic tourism. On our sustainable polar bear journeys, we fortunately observe their lead for the right way to greatest work together with these creatures for the great of all.
