About Polar Bears

So for my second post I decided to post some information on polar bears.

Five countries have polar bear populations: the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway. Polar bears live only in Arctic areas that surround the North Pole—not in Antarctica, which surrounds the South Pole. The word arctic comes from the Greek word for bear, and Antarctic comes from the Greek meaning the opposite, without bear.

Polar bears top the food chain in the Arctic, where they primarily prey on ringed seals. Adult male polar bears can weigh from 775 to 1,200 pounds. Females normally weigh 330 to 650 pounds. Females usually give birth to two cubs. Single cubs and triplets can also occur depending on the health and condition of the mother. Cubs stay with their mothers for up to 2-1/2 years, learning how to hunt and survive in the harsh arctic environment.

Biologists estimate there are 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears. About 60% of those live in Canada. In 2008, the polar bears were listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The IUNC Polar Bear Specialist Group that of the 19 sub species of polar bears, 4 species are declining, 5 are stable 1 in increasing and 9 have insufficient data.  

Polar bear's conservation status (vulnerable)

Scientists predict that unless action is taken to stop climate change, we will lose two-thirds of all polar bears by the middle of the century and all of them by the end of the century.

But some people are seeing more polar bears!

Some Native communities in Canada are reporting an increase in the numbers of polar bears on land. Traditional hunters believe this means an increase in population. But some scientists attribute it to polar bears being driven ashore by lack of ice. 

To learn more about polar bears go to

http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears