10 Facts about Polar Bears

Thinking of a trip to Churchill, Manitoba to see polar bears in the wild? Let’s learn a little more about how polar bears have adapted to thrive in one of the harshest environments on our planet. Continue reading to learn 10 facts about polar bears!

by Cate Collins: Lead Scientist, Gold Star Canadian Tours

Polar bears are marine mammals

The scientific name for polar bears is Ursus Maritimus which means “bear of the sea”. While some polar bears do spend time on land during the warm months, they rely on the sea ice to hunt, mate, and travel. The polar bears that migrate through Churchill in the fall months are eagerly awaiting the return of the sea ice so they can resume hunting seals after a long summer of fasting.

Polar bear fur isn’t actually white

The creamy yellow polar bear fur stands out against the blue-white ice

The color of polar bear fur does not come from a pigment. The hair is colorless and hollow, so the color we see comes from the reflection of light. As a result, polar bears appear pale yellow. When on an Expedition aboard a Tundra Buggy, the best way to help spot bears is to look for something yellow in the vast white tundra.

Polar bears have black skin

While they are light in color to camouflage with their environment, polar bears have black skin which allows them to absorb more heat from the sun. The easiest way to spot the black skin is to look at their noses or the pads on their paws.

Polar bears have small ears and tails

Living in such an extreme habitat means that polar bears need significant adaptations to be able to survive. They have small ears and tails to minimize heat loss from these extremities to help them stay warm in the cold Arctic winters.

Males are much bigger than females

Polar bears are sexually dimorphic – this means that the males and females of the species look different. In the case of polar bears, the males are almost twice the size of the females. The females are around 330-650 lbs, whereas the males are 770-1300 lbs when full grown.

Polar bears play fight

It is typically male polar bears that will spar, or play fight, in the fall months. They’re not aiming to hurt each other; they are just testing their strength before heading out onto the ice where they may need to fight for territory, food, or mates.

Cubs are just over 1 lb at birth

Since the cubs are so small when they are born, they spend a couple months inside the den feeding on their mother’s milk. In that time, they grow incredibly fast since the milk is made of 31% fat – that is like drinking whipping cream. Cubs stay with their moms for around 2.5 years. So, in the fall in Churchill, it is possible to see cubs of the year which are around 10 months old, or yearling cubs which are 22 months old and can be almost as big as their mom.

A polar bear’s diet is mostly fat

The favourite food of polar bears is ringed seal which are full of energy rich blubber. This means their diet is almost entirely fat. They evolved to have more copies of genes for fatty acid breakdown, and fewer for starch. This means they are really good at digesting fat and not very good at digesting anything else. So, during the long summers on land, they mostly use their energy reserves to survive.

Polar bears can smell seals 30 km away

Polar bears have incredible noses allowing them to hunt ringed seals over vast distances. Their skull is long to accommodate a large olfactory bulb which gives them this fantastic sense of smell. They can even sniff out baby seals in their birth lairs. Once they find a lair, they will break through the ice and pull the seal out.

Polar Bears can swim 10km/hr

While faster on the ice, polar bears are also incredibly good swimmers. They have giant paws which are slightly webbed and act as paddles for swimming. Since they have so much fat on their bodies, polar bears float well in the water.

About Gold Star Canadian Tours

At Gold Star Canadian Tours, we focus on providing the worlds best travel experiences to authentically Canadian destinations. Our flagship tour is a convenient 1-day Polar Bear Expedition with dedicated non-stop charter flights from major airports directly to Churchill, Manitoba. With Gold Star Canadian Tours, the wonders of the Arctic are closer than ever. Your Adventure Awaits!