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A Polar Bear Nose Is So Powerful It Can Smell A Seal On The Ice 20 Miles Away

National Polar Bear Day, also known as International Polar Bear Day is observed on February 27th.  It is a day to learn more about the polar bear and conservation efforts where the polar bear is concerned.

  • Polar bears can reach a height of 9 ft tall and a weight of 1400 pounds.  They have large front paws, which are slightly webbed, that are used to paddle as they swim.
  • As they are powerful swimmers, some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land. However, some of the distance may have been covered by floating on sheets of ice.
  • Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway.
  • The polar bears have a warming layer of fat which is covered by their thick coat of insulating fur which helps them live in the colder environments.
  • Some organizations use this day to raise awareness of the declining number of polar bears worldwide. It is believed by many that these beautiful creatures are threatened due to global warming and the consequential loss of their natural habitat.  Groups around the world gather together to find ways to make a difference and spread information to others.
  • Polar bears are the largest and longest species of bear. Males can measure up to 10 feet (3 meters) when standing on their hind legs.
  • Scientists believe that the polar bear evolved from a common brown bear ancestor about 200,000 years ago.
  • Even though they look white, a polar bear’s fur is made of clear, hollow tubes filled with air.
  • Polar bears clean themselves by rolling in the snow.
  • They also cool off by rolling in the snow or taking a dip in chilly waters.
  • A group of polar bears is sometimes called a pack or sleuth.
  • Unlike their brown and black counterparts, polar bears do not hibernate.
  • Polar bears are found in countries that ring the Arctic Circle—Canada, the US, Greenland, Russia, and Norway.
  • Polar bears have no natural enemies.
  • They can swim at speeds of up to 6 miles per hour (8 knots). In fact, their taxonomic name means “sea bear.”
  • Polar bears have been known to swim more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) without rest in search for food. Unfortunately, that distance is increasing due to climate change.
  • Their nose is so powerful it can smell a seal on the ice 20 miles (32 kilometers) away, sniff out a seal’s den that has been covered with snow, and even find a seal’s air hole up to 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) away.
  • When they aren’t hunting, polar bears are resting up to 20 hours a day.
  • Because their habitat vanishes for a few months every year, polar bears have evolved one of the longest fasting periods of any animal.
  • Polar bears typically kill and eat prey every four to five days.
  • A polar bear’s fat acts as a nutritional reserve and energy storage system when food can’t be found. It also increases their buoyancy when they swim.
  • They have built-in socks. Stiff fur on the sole of each foot keeps the polar bear from slipping on ice, and also muffles the sound of the bear’s approach when sneaking up on a meal.
  • Except for females with cubs, polar bears are solitary.
  • Polar bear pregnancies are triggered by a female’s body condition and environmental factors, most often between September and November.
  • This process, known as delayed implantation, is an adaption that ensures polar bear cubs will be born to healthy mothers at a time when their chances for survival are greatest.
  • Polar bear cubs weigh a mere 1 pound (.45 kilograms) at birth. They are hairless and have their eyes closed, depending on their mother to keep them warm and fed.
  • The classic white bears are not really white. Polar bears actually have black skinand hollow, colourless hair. Their hollow fur reflects light and traps the sun’s heat to help keep them warm.
  • Polar bears can overheat. Though they are adapt to survive Arctic temperatures, which can dip below -50°C, they can also overheat. This becomes more of a risk when running and in the summer – when temperatures rise above freezing and up to 20°C.
  • They’re quick on their feet. Polar bears can reach speeds of up to 40km per hour (25 mph) on land.
  • A female polar bear will have an average of five litters of cubs in her life time.  Two-thirds of polar bear litters are twins!

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Zoo Nooz

WWF

NatGeo Kids

Arctic Kingdom