Polar Bear: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Bears · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. The polar bear is the largest bear and land carnivore alive by body mass. Adult males weigh 300 to 800 kg.
2. A polar bear's skin is black. Its fur looks white because it has no pigment and scatters light back.
3. Polar bear guard hairs are hollow. They trap heat and let the bear float in the water.
4. Polar bears ambush seals. They stalk them on the ice or in the water, or wait at a breathing hole for prey to swim by.
5. Most polar bears stay active all year. Only pregnant females hibernate.

The quiz

1. How much can an adult male polar bear weigh?

• Up to 80 kg
• Up to 200 kg
• Up to 800 kg (correct)
• Up to 8,000 kg

Adult males weigh 300 to 800 kg.

2. What colour is a polar bear's skin?

• White
• Pink
• Grey
• Black (correct)

It has black skin; the fur only appears white.

3. What are the polar bear's hollow guard hairs good for?

• Making noise on the ice
• Trapping heat and floating (correct)
• Digging in snow
• Attracting seals

The hollow hairs trap heat and let the animal float in water.

4. Where might a polar bear wait for a seal?

• Inside a cave
• At a breathing hole (correct)
• In a treetop
• Behind a rock on land

It may wait at a breathing hole for prey to swim by.

5. Which polar bears hibernate?

• All adult males
• Only pregnant females (correct)
• Only cubs
• All of them in winter

Hibernation occurs only among pregnant females.

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