Polar Bears

Polar bears are the largest land predators on Earth. They live in the Arctic, near the North Pole. Their white fur helps them blend in with the snow and ice. Under their fur, polar bears actually have black skin!

Arctic Survival

Polar bears are built for the cold. They have a thick layer of fat called blubber that keeps them warm. Their fur is not actually white. Each hair is clear and hollow, which traps heat. Polar bears have rough pads on their feet to grip the ice.

A rare mix between a polar bear and a brown bear.
A rare mix between a polar bear and a brown bear. (Original uploader was Messybeast at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons)

Hunting on Ice

Polar bears mainly eat seals. They wait patiently by holes in the ice for seals to come up to breathe. Polar bears can smell a seal from almost a mile away. They are also strong swimmers and can swim for hours in freezing water.

Fun Facts

  • Polar bears are classified as marine mammals.
  • Their fur is waterproof and their skin is black.
  • A polar bear can eat 100 pounds of seal in one meal.

Did You Know?

Polar bears are threatened by climate change because the Arctic ice they depend on for hunting is melting. Scientists are working hard to protect them.