Polar Bear
Introductions
Greetings, Polar Bear Fan! I’m your spokesbear, Spruce (she/her). I live in Canada’s Western Hudson Bay. Many people think we polar bears spend all our time stalking seals, humans, and anything else that moves. While we might (wink!), we are so much more than that! We grow up in close-knit families that include our mom and any siblings. And we remain curious and playful throughout our lives.
Adult males are likely to be twice my size, weighing up to 1,200 pounds (544 kilograms) and standing ten feet (3 meters) tall to my 600 pounds (272 kilograms) and standing height of 6.5 feet (2 meters). But I will take one down if he threatens my cubs! I also know a little something about what the boys are up to, thanks to my twin brother Sprite.
Fast Facts
Where We Live
We live in the Arctic, primarily Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. The Polar Bear Capital of the World is Canada’s Western Hudson Bay.
IUCN Status
At our last assessment in 2015, we were considered vulnerable. More recent studies indicate that my friends in Hudson Bay and I could become extinct as soon as the 2030’s. Our decline is primarily due to:
- Climate change. Warmer temperatures cause our sea ice to melt. This is detrimental because it’s where we live and serves as a platform to hunt for food. Also, our food sources are shrinking as a result.
- Exposure to pollutants and toxic substances transported by air and ocean currents. There is no such thing as an unpolluted polar bear, which impacts our ability to reproduce.
- Increased human activity in our region. This disturbs the dens where we give birth and nurture our young.
Celebrity Polar Bear
Knut was born in 2006 at the Berlin Zoo, and raised by zookeepers after his mother rejected him. His cuteness inspired worldwide attention, and books have celebrated him such as Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World. For more information, check out Knut’s Wikipedia page.
International Polar Bear Day
is February 27!
Fun Fact
We’re well-insulated with our thick fur and 4.5 inches of blubber, but we can quickly overheat. (Just like a human jogging in winter attire during the summer.) To maintain a comfortable temperature, we usually amble at a walking pace of 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) per hour.
Polar Bear Social Structure
Outside of raising cubs and the occasional amorous pursuit, we tend to be solo artists. Our lives revolve around sea ice, which forms dramatically differently each year. Animals like seals that live on and around the ice shift locations as a result, so I often must travel long distances to find food. Because our Arctic world changes every year, we have huge home ranges that overlap with other bears but no defined territory. But our world is dominated by smell, and I interact with other bears simply by sniffing their footprints.
Growing Up Polar Bear
In the Beginning
Sprite and I were December babies, born in an immaculate maternal den under the Arctic snow. We only weighed 1.5 pounds (680 grams) each, with nary an ounce of fat on our bones. Our eyes were closed, we couldn’t hear, we had no teeth, and our fur was so sparse you might not have noticed it. Luckily Mom had us covered – literally. As we slept on her chest, she enfolded us in her arms and legs to keep us warm. Mom was a little out of it most days, so we’d scream when we were hungry. She’d immediately respond by moving us to nurse, then grooming us, and curling us up tightly again. Inside a polar bear den
We opened our eyes after several weeks and at one month, we were crawling around our den like no one’s business! By two months, we each had bulked up to 16 pounds (7 kilograms) and had fluffy wool coats. Mom often nuzzled and groomed us, and we helped by washing ourselves and each other too.
By March, we both weighed 30 pounds (14 kilograms). And something amazing happened – mom dug a small opening to the surface! For the first week, she stuck her head out once a day and then she finally allowed us to venture outside. While most of our time was spent in the den, we’d leave for a few hours each day. While we were outside, Mom mostly snoozed in the daylight. Sprite and I stayed close to her while we played games like king of the castle, stalk your sibling, wrestle-mania, and tag. But the best time was climbing the nearby hill and sliding down together! Wheee!
Off to the Sea Ice
Being able to move around outside helped us to gain strength quickly. That was a good thing because after two weeks, we walked away from our den and just kept going. Sometimes Mom would curl up in a snow pit so we could nurse and play, but then we kept going. It was so exciting to see so many new things! I wanted to explore it all!
After walking for several days, we got to the sea ice and Mom procured a meal for us right away. It was our first taste of meat, and we loved it! Spite and I learned quickly that if we wanted more yummy meals, we had to remain still until Mom gave us the all-clear sign to rejoin her. After a good meal, we’d often celebrate by having fun playing with each other.
For most of the first year, we remained near Mom, watching and sometimes trying to imitate her daily routine. Once we turned a year old, both Sprite and I were hunting independently – although our meals were shared family-style. And by the time we were two years old, we were both gathering meals much more effectively. And it was crazy, but by then Sprite was actually taller than Mom!
Gaining Independence
Slowly our dynamic shifted. While we followed Mom around initially, Sprite and I began leading the way with Mom bringing up the rear. We were often out of visual contact with her, although we continued to share family meals. But one day, when we were two and a half years old, Mom just walked away. She’d prepared us well and we were now on our own. Sprite and I traveled together for the next few months, still sharing our meals. Eventually, though, we went our separate ways. It’s much easier to hunt for just yourself.
Adulting, Polar Bear Style
That first winter on my own, I crafted my inaugural temporary den. The weather was so bad that there weren’t any meals to be found so I powered down and stayed inside it for a few weeks. I learned it was also a great way to escape bugs during the summer.
Sometimes I would run across another polar bear. Until I turned five years old, the other bears tended to be bigger than me. They’d often steal my hard-won meal, so I took detours to avoid others. Eventually I traveled a few hundred miles (300 kilometers) from where I grew up. And it was there and then that something scary happened.
The Scary Thing that Happened
It was late March. I was way out on the sea ice looking for a meal as per usual when I realized someone was following me. I periodically stood on my hind legs to get a better look. It was an enormous male polar bear. He was sniffing my tracks and then stood on his hind legs to look at me. Eek! Mom had always steered us away from large male bears, so I bolted. But he continued to pursue me and eventually approached. I ran with my head held low and lunged at him, but he stood his ground. I hightailed it out of there, but he kept following me.
Eventually I got more used to him being in proximity and he spent the next week courting me as he shepherded me towards more isolated areas. We sometimes stood on our hind legs and showed each other our powerful jaws, occasionally locking them together. We slept next to each other. And sometimes, we would just slide down hills together. Whee! Throughout these interactions, he quietly chuffed at me. After a week of courting, we spent the next two weeks in amorous pursuits. At one point, another large male approached us. My Honey Bear charged him. They reared up and locked jaws, pushing each other on the chest. Eventually, my man forced the newcomer on his back and placed his jaws around the intruder’s neck. After a minute of the other male lying motionless, he was allowed to leave. No one was hurt badly, but I understand these fights can get pretty intense!
My First Maternal Den
After two weeks with Honey Bear, I went back to my normal life. I bulked up 220 pounds (100 kilograms) that spring and then came ashore in July when the sea ice melted. Then I headed 50 miles (80 kilometers) inland to look for a spot for my first maternal den. I dug several test pits and after a few days, I selected a site. Since the snow hadn’t started falling yet, I excavated my den in the peat banks beneath the black spruce trees that inspired my name. It was a single chamber that was just big enough for me to turn around. The 10-foot (3 meter) long entrance tunnel was narrow, and the snow eventually buried it.
Cubbing It
And then I slept. It was cozy in my den, and 37° F (21° C) warmer than outside the den. I didn’t eat or drink for the next 8 months and relied on my stored fat to survive, losing 280 pounds (127 kilograms) in the process. Along the way, my own little twins, Stirling and Silver were born. I kept them warm and enjoyed hearing them hum when they nursed. Sometimes our den walls became icy, so I’d have to claw through it before resting again. We remained in our den until March, when it was time to emerge. We slowly got used to being outside again and then headed to the sea ice. There were times when my cubs couldn’t climb the heavy ice along the way, so I’d carry them over the obstacle. We avoided the water until the cubs were 6 months old because their baby fur leaves them vulnerable to hypothermia. If we absolutely had to get in, I carried them on my back.
I was very patient with my cubs. I only occasionally scolded them with a low growl or soft cuff. When we saw an adult male bear, we’d head in the opposite direction. If he followed, I’d rush him with my head down to keep him away from my cubs. Then we’d make a run for it. It’s a good thing that larger males overheat so quickly and can’t run nearly as long as we could!
My cubs stayed with me for two and a half years, following me through my daily routines and learning how to be polar bears. I taught them everything I knew. And then a large male polar bear started following us. He eventually separated me from Stirling and Silver and began to court me. I wasn’t scared this time, though, because I knew what was happening.
Stirling and Silver were lucky because they were born during a productive year for the seals, which gave them a better chance to survive. Unfortunately, the next time I had a cub, the seals were not plentiful so there wasn’t much to eat. I lost him shortly after we exited the den. I was sad without my baby and stayed with his little body for days and then wandered erratically for a while. The next season, another male bear found me and the whole cycle repeated. Luckily, the seals had a better year, so my next cubs lived to follow me around for the next few years.
Thriving in the Arctic
My life will follow this pattern of having cubs every third year, or sooner if I lose them. We tend to live 15-18 years in the wild, so I expect I’ll have many years to continue thriving in my Arctic home.
Polar Bear Comms.
When we’re together, we communicate primarily through body language with the occasional vocal thrown in for emphasis. If I see another bear wagging her head from side to side, I understand she wants to play. If I’m eating my meal and another bear of the same size happens by, she may approach slowly, circle the meal and then touch my nose to ask to share it. Of course, not all interactions are so pleasant. If I hear another bear roaring, I know he is angry. When his head is down with ears back, I know he intends to attack. When that happens, if he is bigger than me, it’s time to get my jog on!
Competition for Lady Bears.
While there are approximately the same number of male and female polar bears, only one-third of us lady bears are available for amorous activities during any given mating season. (The rest of us are busy raising cubs.) This results in intense competition among the male bears.
A Typical Day for Me as an Adult
Not only does sea ice vary each year, but it also changes each season. Regardless of the timing, I often I walk about 15 miles (24 kilometers) daily and occasionally stand on my hind legs to look around and to test the wind. Not to brag, but I can smell a seal that’s 20 miles (32 kilometers) away.
Springtime in the Arctic
Seals are easy to find in the spring, when the sea ice is thick enough to provide me with a good hunting platform. I start the season at my lowest body weight (325 pounds or 147 kilograms) and gear up slowly with a scant three seals during the month of March. But April through July is a time of plenty. I double my weight during these months by consuming 17 seals each month. My strategy for obtaining a meal is to wait (relatively) patiently outside a seal’s breathing hole. I may wait for hours, although 60 minutes is more typical. Other times, when I detect a seal’s lair, I pounce on the snow above and crash into it. Surprise! Hahaha!
When I catch a meal, I spend an hour eating and then jump into the sea to clean myself. After that, I get sleepy and dig a shallow pit in the snow to take a nap. I really like my naps and in addition to 8 hours a night, I also snooze when it’s too windy or too hot. Sometimes, after a huge meal I’ve got more time on my paws to joyfully play or explore, like the time I found some research equipment that one of your scientists left behind.
Arctic Summers
The sea ice melts earlier each year and by the end of July, I now must move to the land. I work hard to find a meal in the summers and may sample land food like fish, vegetation, and bird eggs to sustain myself. Or sometimes I just gnaw on seaweed or a branch for the fun of it. During this time, I remain close to the water so I can cool down. I’m a great swimmer and can paddle for hours at a time. I also still love my naps and during the summer I sprawl out on my back with my feet in the air and use a block of ice as a pillow.
According to my brother Sprite, summer is when he and other large males hang out together and play fight. When the boys sway their heads, it is an invitation to the others to play. Both sparring participants stand on their hind legs with chins down as they push, swat, mouth, and wrestle until one of them flees. They all rest within a few meters of each other while they’re together. Not sure what’s up with that as the lady bears don’t ever congregate, but it seems to work for the guys.
Falling Into Winter
When the temperatures drop in the fall, I return to the sea ice to seek my meals. Sometimes I find myself on drifting sea ice and must rely on my intuition to orient myself because in the Arctic autumn brings increasingly darker days.
By winter, many water sources freeze. These conditions limit my ability to catch a seal, and I may only eat one or two each month in October and November. I can get frustrated when I don’t catch anything and may swat the snow to vent. Blizzards become more frequent during this time of year. I curl up and let the snow pile on top of me like a blanket and may remain there for several days. When it gets even colder, I build myself a temporary den for shelter and wait for spring (and better hunting conditions) to return.
How To Help Us.
Climate change is causing our sea ice to melt more rapidly each year. No matter where you live, you can take action to help. See some actions you can take as an individual. We also face many of the Threats to Oceans. See some actions you can take to clean up our oceans. You can also support polar bear conservation and research through organizations that are helping us. Also, if you travel to the Arctic to see us, choose a responsible travel agent that respects our lifestyle.
Returning the Favor.
Since you’re considering helping us, I want to return the favor. Life in the Arctic varies seasonally and has taught me to go with the flow of the season. Shine during your times of plenty and power down – maybe take a nap or two – during the darker times. Understand what’s happening in your life to make time for both while trusting your intuition to lead you down your own path. And no matter what, don’t forget to take time to play and explore each day!
For more information on polar bears, read Ian Stirling’s Polar Bears: The Natural History of a Threatened Species or check out the Polar Bears International website. If you’d like to see them in person, check out the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic. If you’re in the United States, some of your best bets are either the Oregon Zoo or the Columbus Zoo. If you’d like to watch them virtually, check out Polar Bears International’s polar bear cams.
Special thanks to Joanna Sulich of Polar Bears International for serving as an expert advisor on polar bears.
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References
- Churchill Wild. (2020, November 2). 10 Cool Facts about Polar Bears. 10 Cool Facts about Polar Bears – Churchill Wild
- Columbus Zoo. (2024, July 15). Instagram Post. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | Did you know that Arctic sea ice is not only used as a frozen hunting platform for polar bears, but instead, actually supports the entire… | Instagram
- Davis, R. W., & Pagano, A. M. (Eds.). (2021). Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Sea Otters and Polar Bears. Springer.
- Derocher, A. E. (2012). Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior. John Hopkins University Press.
- Gartland, K. N., Humbyrd, M. K., Meister, B., & Fuller, G. (2023). Behavioral Development of a Captive Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Cub in the Maternal Den. Zoo Biology, 42(4), 582-587.
- Gartland, K. N., Humbyrd, M., Brightrall, T., Meister, B., & Fuller, G. (2024). Behavior of Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Cubs Post‐Den Emergence at the Detroit Zoo. Zoo Biology, 43(2), 149-163.
- Grady. T. (2021). Polar Bear. Dylanna Press.
- Klappstein, N. J., McGeachy, D., Pilfold, N. W., Lunn, N. J., & Derocher, A. E. (2024). Maternal Den Site Fidelity of Polar Bears in Western Hudson Bay. bioRxiv, 2024-01.
- Marsh, L. (2019). Polar Bears. National Geographic Kids.
- Pagano, A. M., Rode, K. D., Lunn, N. J., McGeachy, D., Atkinson, S. N., Farley, S. D., … & Robbins, C. T. (2024). Polar Bear Energetic and Behavioral Strategies on Land With Implications for Surviving the Ice-Free Period. Nature Communications, 15(1), 947.
- Polar Bears International. (2024). Polar Bears International
- Polar Bears International. (2024, May 13). Instagram Post. #RightNowintheArctic: It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere—days are growing longer, and new life is taking shape across the Arctic. Adult… | Instagram
- Stirling, I. (2011). Polar Bears: The Natural History of a Threatened Species. Fitzhenry and Whiteside.
- Stirling, I., Laidre, K. L., & Born, E. W. (2021). Do Wild Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) Use Tools When Hunting Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus)?. Arctic, 74(2), 175-187.
- Stirling, I., Spencer, C., & Andriashek, D. (2016). Behavior and Activity Budgets of Wild Breeding Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus). Marine Mammal Science, 32(1), 13-37.
- University of Winnipeg. (2021, October 22). Do Polar Bears Have Personalities? Do polar bears have personalities? | University of Winnipeg News (uwinnipeg.ca)
- van Gessel, C. (2015). Polar Bear Mother‐Offspring Interactions in Maternity Dens in Captivity. Zoo Biology, 34(5), 453-459.