POLAR
BEARS
BEARS
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 Habitat
Chapter 2 Survival
Chapter 3 Hunting
Chapter 4 Mating
Chapter 5 Cubs
Introduction
Scientists believe that the first polar bears appeared approximately 250,000 years ago. They think that brown bears living near the Arctic slowly adapted to their surroundings by growing thicker fur creating a heavier coat to protect them from the severe cold. Their coats became lighter in color to help them blend in with the snow and ice for camouflage.
Scientists say that the process of adapting to the Arctic climate took thousands of years. Eventually these Arctic brown bears became polar bears. Polar bears have helped the Natives of the Arctic regions survive. They hunt the bears and use their skins to make furs for warmth and use their meat for food.
HABITAT
CHAPTER 1
A polar bear lives in the Arctic. The Arctic has a cold and icy climate. This is the most suitable climate for polar bears. It is very important for a polar bear to have a home to stay in during the cold winter months.
A polar bears home is called a den. You can find a polar bears den in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Norway and Russia. All of these are Arctic regions where polar bears can live.
Polar bears live on ice that cover most of the arctic ocean. Polar bears try to stay on ice all year long. Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia all surround the North pole. Polar bears mainly live on ice as often as they can.
Survival
CHAPTER 2
A polar bears life span is about 30 years. The polar bear survives so long in the Arctic because its habitat is always changing. Ice freezes, melts and then breaks into small pieces through the years.
In order to survive, a polar bear must get used to the changing weather patterns in the Arctic. The winters are long and very cold making survival difficult.
The summers are short and cool. Snowstorms occur often during the summer and fall.
Another way polar bears survive the harsh climate is because they have a thick layer of fat called blubber. They also have black pads on the bottom of their feet with small soft bumps called papillae. The papillae grip the ice to keep the polar bears from slipping while walking on the ice.
Hunting
Chapter 3
A polar bear stalks its prey by following it on the ice. Once it has watched its every move it then stays very still until its ready to grab it.
Polar bears hunt seals. They grab the seal and pull it to the surface in a spot where the ice has melted. They eat the blubber because it provides it with the most energy. Seals have a lot of blubber. The polar bear eats the blubber and the skin first. Other animals such as Arctic foxes, gulls and young polar bear cubs eat the flesh. Polar bears need a lot of food to provide them with enough energy so that they can hibernate through the winter. When a polar bear stalks its prey it follows it quietly. After the polar bear caught the prey it feeds the cubs.
A polar bear stalking prey
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Mating
Chapter 4
Polar bears mate on ice during April and May. Females mate for the first time at 4 years old! Males mate for the first time between ages 8-10!
Polar bears find each other on ice where hunting seals is the best. Males track females that are ready to mate. The male finds the female by following her tracks.
Males often attack another male polar bear to stay with the female for a couple of weeks. Who ever wins gets to stay with the female for a week or more.
Cubs
Chapter 5
When a baby polar bear is born they are not born with thick warm fur. But after a couple months they grow some warm fur
Newborn polar bears after a couple months.
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Cubs under mother’s fur
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Cubs are born between November and January. Most females only have 2 cubs. Each cub weighs about only 16-24 oz (454-680 grams) at birth. Cubs are only about 12 inches (30 cm) long.
Newborn cubs are completely helpless. Their eyes are shut and can’t see for about a month. They stay with their mother for about a month or at least till their eyes are open. Cubs spend their first few weeks nursing. Their mother’s rich milk helps the cubs grow quickly.
Cubs start walking on 4 legs at about 2 months old. The mother leads her cubs out of the den in March or April. In winter snow normally covers the entrance to the den so the mother needs to dig her and her cubs out. The cubs stay close the den for about 2 weeks while the cubs get used to the icy climate. Cubs practice walking on 4 legs on snow and ice. Cubs play by “fighting” and chasing each other. The mother take s her cubs on ice where they are big enough to travel.
WORDS TO KNOW
adapt:(ah-da-pt) get used to
floe:(FLOH) a large sheet of floating ice
papille: (puh-PIL-eye) small soft bumps that cover a polar bears footpads.
carnivore :( KAR-nuh-vor) an animal who eats meat.
mammal: (MaM-uhl) a warm blooded animal with a backbone
threatened:(Threat-uhud) in danger of dying out.
Camouflage:(KAM-uh-flazh) To blend in.
Blubber:(BLUH-bur) a layer of fat under the skin of a whale, polar bear,and seal.
Hibernate: (HYE-bur-nate) to spend winter in a deep sleep.
Predator:(PRED-uh-ter) an animal that eats prey.
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