Polar Bears
Polar bears live in the Artic, Alaska, Russia, Greenland, Canada, and Norway. In fact 60% of polar bears live in Canada. Polar bears are threatened and vulnerable to extinction. This is due to climate change and hunting.
Full grown male polar bears can weigh up to 1,700 pounds, while female polar bears weigh up to 700 pounds. Their diets mainly consist of ringed seals. However, they may attempt to find different prey. For instance, reindeer, small rodents, waterfowl, etc.
Climate Change
Climate change has a significant impact on polar bears because is causes the sea ice to melt. Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt, breed, and rest. The decline sea ice threatens polar bears ability to survive. Often forcing polar bears to expend more energy to find food, leading to exhaustion and starvation.
Evolution
Polar bears scientific name is Ursus maritimus. It is believed that polar bears evolved from brown bears around 500,000 years ago. The oldest known polar bear fossil was discovered in Norway in 2004. The fossil was estimated to be 110,000 to 130,000 years old. Some noticeable adaptations for polar bears include:
- White fur – To camouflage in the snow
- Webbed paws – To help them swim
- Teeth – Changed to help rip apart prey such as seals
Leave a Reply