Polar Bear
Walter Family Arctic Tundra
Did You Know?
- Polar bears are the largest carnivorous land mammals on earth. They measure 7–8 feet long from nose to tail and males can weigh more than 1,700 pounds.
- Polar bears spend most of their time at sea, but they cannot hunt seals underwater, so they use sea ice as a hunting platform. Unfortunately, climate change is reducing the amount of sea ice.
- Polar bear fur is hollow and reflects light. Underneath the fur, the skin is black and covers a layer of fat.
Don’t See the Animals?
Why aren’t animals visible at all times? To promote positive animal welfare, we provide animals with choices. They can choose to spend time in areas that are out of public view.
Take an Animal Home with You
Can’t Spot the Polar Bears?
At Lincoln Park Zoo, animals decide where they spend their time. Sometimes that means choosing to be indoors and not visible.
But you don’t have to miss them! Thanks to video clips powered by PwC, you can catch a glimpse of what they might be up to. In this clip, Siku participates in his own healthcare by offering his paw for a blood draw, a behavior the zoo’s care staff have trained to minimize stress during veterinary procedures. Check out more clips of the bears behind the scenes, interacting with enrichment for rewards of fish!
Overview
Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus
Class: Mammals
Diet: Seals (walruses, whale carcasses, bird eggs, and vegetation)
Range: Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Alaska
Endangered Status: Vulnerable
More Information
Polar bears are adapted to cold weather with their thick fur and large paws, which help them distribute their weight without breaking through ice. Their black footpads are covered with small, soft bumps called papillae that help them grip on slippery surfaces. They also have tufts of fur between their toes and footpads for additional grip. Their claws are thick, curved, and sharp, measuring about 2 inches long. They have partially webbed feet and are considered marine mammals.
These bears are generally solitary animals except when mating or taking care of cubs. They breed in late spring and experience delayed implantation, meaning that the embryo will not implant in the female bear’s uterus until conditions are right in the fall. Twins are common among polar bear births, and newborns weigh just one pound. Offspring remain in the den with their mother until March or early April. The mother does not eat or drink during the entire denning process. Polar bears reach maturity around 4–6 years of age.
