Polar bears rule the frozen Arctic as the largest land carnivores on Earth. While they look cute and cuddly in cartoons, they are actually fierce predators that can smell a seal from miles away. Furthermore, these white bears are perfectly evolved for a life on the ice, sporting paws the size of dinner plates. However, climate change threatens their icy home, forcing them to adapt in strange new ways. Prepare to venture north to meet the kings of the cold.
Polar bears
Surprisingly, polar bears actually have jet-black skin underneath their thick fur. This dark color helps them absorb heat from the sun to stay warm in freezing temperatures.
Moreover, their fur is not white but transparent and hollow. The hairs reflect visible light like snow, which tricks our eyes into seeing a white coat.
Polar bears are technically marine mammals because they spend most of their lives on sea ice. Consequently, they are the only bear species with this classification.
Amazingly, they can swim for days at a time without stopping. One female swam for nine straight days, covering over 400 miles to find stable ice.
Their paws act like natural snowshoes to prevent them from sinking into the snow. In addition, small bumps on their footpads provide traction on slippery ice.
Interestingly, polar bears clean their fur by rolling in the snow. They do this because wet or dirty fur loses its insulating properties, which could freeze them.
They can smell a seal breathing hole from a mile away. Therefore, they simply wait patiently by the hole for hours until a seal surfaces for air.
Sometimes, polar bears mate with grizzly bears to create “pizzly” bears. These rare hybrids have white fur with brown patches and possess traits of both parents.
Scientists cannot detect them with infrared cameras. Because their blubber and fur trap heat so effectively, they release almost no heat signature.
A liver from a polar bear contains a lethal amount of Vitamin A. Thus, indigenous people know never to eat it, as it causes severe illness or death.
Polar bears sometimes share food with Arctic foxes. The foxes follow the bears, scavenging leftovers from the kills that the bears leave behind.
They overheat more easily than they freeze. In fact, they must walk slowly to avoid heatstroke, even when the air temperature drops below zero.
Remarkably, they have three eyelids to protect their eyes. The third eyelid acts like sunglasses, shielding their vision from the intense glare of the sun on snow.
Twin cubs are more common than single births. Usually, a mother gives birth to two tiny cubs, which stay with her for over two years.
Finally, polar bears do not hibernate like other bears. Instead, they remain active all winter to hunt, while only pregnant females dig dens.
