Polar Bears

Abby Harmon

World’s Largest Predators

• Where can I be found?– Artic– U.S.( Alaska)– Canada– Russia– Denmark(Greenland)– Norway

Endangered Species

• Are polar bears endangered? – Artic• Scientist believe that polar bears are endangered in the

artics. • They are believed to be endangered because of the

climate change in the artics.

Characteristics• Size

• “The polar bear is the largest land carnivore.”• Male polar bears are about three times the size of females.

– Males • “boars weigh (772-1,433 lb.)”• “Length: (8.2-9.8 ft.) long.”

– Females• “Sows weigh (331-551 lb.)”• “Length: (6.0-8.2 ft.)”• “Pregnant bears weigh about (1,102 lb.)”

Characteristics (Cont.)• Body shape

– Slender bodies compared to bears– Long necks and heads

• Coloration– their fur color will vary

• Limbs– Longer back legs than front legs– Five-toed paws– Webbed front feet and elongated hind feet

Characteristics (Cont.)

• Limbs (Cont.) – Walks of soles of feet– Heels touch ground first– Lumbered gait– Head goes side to side walking– Uses twice the energy to move due to size– 3.4 mph average walking speed– 25 mph when chasing prey

Characteristics (Cont.)

• Head– Elongated head – Nose: Broad and black

Characteristics (Cont.)

• Teeth– 42 teeth– Used in eating and aggressive behavior

Eating Habits

• Eats-reindeer

-small rodents -seabirds -waterfowl -fish -eggs -vegetation -berries -human garbage

Eating Habits (Cont.)

• The stomach can hold 15% to 20% of its body weight

• Eats this much when high demand for energy• Do not eat when hibernating

Activity

• Activeness– Most active first third of day– Least active final third of day

• When sleeping– Often sleeping or resting– When warm lay out on ground or ice– When cold curl up

Behavior

• Groups-Adult females with cubs-Breeding pairs

• Male and females play fight• Cubs chase and tackle brothers & sisters

Hibernation

• Only pregnant females• Easily awakened• Stores body fat when food is plentiful• Food scarce, hibernate

Population

• Population of Polar Bears– 20,000 to 25,000 individual polar bears– Male to female ratio is about one:one

• Declining population – Due to the loss of sea, ice habitats.

Bibliography • “Kidzone”- http://www.kidzone.ws/sg/polarbear/polar_bear.htm• “Polar Bear International” http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears/faqs#q2• “Sea-World” http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/polar-bear/physical-characteristics.htm• “Sea-World” http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/polar-bear/diet.htm• “Hibernating” http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/polarbears/pbbehavior.html

Bibliography (Cont.) Pictures• “Paw Print” http://www.ebay.com/bhp/bear-paw-print-decal• “Sunshine Polar Bear” http://www.arkive.org/polar-bear/ursus-maritimus/• “Shy Polar Bear”

http://animalzfun.blogspot.com/2012/04/cute-bears-nice-photos-images-2012.html• “Walking Polar Bear”

http://explore.org/photos/5721/polar-bear-ursus-maritimus-large-male-walking-c• “Cubs” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear• “Stare” http://nature-calls.tv/polar-bear-prank-jeremy-jones-further/polar-bear-stare-head/• “Teeth”

http://www.earthrangers.com/wildwire/take-action/polar-bear-update-finding-and-tracking-polar-bears/

• “Teeth Close up” http://www.hsd3.org/HighSchool/Teachers/MATTIXS/Mattix%20homepage/studentwork/LYNNZIE%20TOMPKINS%20WEBPAGE/ASSETS/Teeth.html

• “Blog post” http://www.greenpepperblog.com/greenpepper_blog/2009/10/just-how-helpful-will-the-new-alaskan-polar-bear-habitat-be.html

• “Fishy” http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/mammals/PolarBear.HTM• “Hibernate” http://sparklyandslimming.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/fighting-the-urge-to-hibernate/• “Curled up” http://www.natgeocreative.com/photography/1072312