Polar Bears, called "Sea Bears" -- are actually marine mammals!

Commonly known as the polar bear, Ursus Maritimus, or "Sea Bear," is one of our planet's most amazing creatures. The Lapp people call polar bears "God's Dog." Although polar bears are intimidating in many ways, they often have dog-like behavior—rolling and playing in the snow and shaking their wet fur when they come out of the water. Here are some fascinating facts about these bears:

Polar Bear Facts Polar Bears are classified as a marine mammal, but they spend about half their time on land or ice as in the water. They can consume 100 pounds of blubber at one sitting. Adult male bears weigh between 775-1500 pounds, and females 330-550. Polar bears can swim 60 miles without rest and have been clocked up to 6 mph. Their fur is transparent and their skin black. Because they give off no detectible heat, they do not show up on an infrared photograph—only their breath does! Polar bears' blubber is 4.5 inches thick, and even thought they live in chilly conditions they have the same body temperature as we do. Newborn bear cubs are only 12-14 inches long and weigh about a pound. Female polar bears generally give birth to twins and nurse them for 20 months. Polar bears sleep often, but never actually hibernate. The average life span in the wild is estimated at 15-18 years, although some tagged bears and ones in captivity live into their 30’s.

Polar Bear Survival Issues

In 1973, the five nations with polar bears signed an international agreement for the conservation and protection of polar bears. These nations are the US, Canada, Denmark (which has authority over Greenland), Norway, and the former USSR. The estimated population of bears worldwide is between 22,000-27,000, 15,000 of which are in Canada. In all the areas, bears have been found to have high levels of PCB’s, pollution contaminants that enter the bears through water and air. Even pollution from far reaches of the world travel on air currents and settle on the snow and ice in the artic, making its way into the food supplies for the polar bears. In some of these countries, the native population is allowed limited sustenance hunting. Russia has fewer controls and the bears are victim to unlawful poaching and extremely high levels of pollution. With global warming a possible cause, Hudson Bay’s ice is melting about 3 weeks earlier each spring than it did 25 years ago. This shortens the important hunting season for the bears. Today’s bears are smaller, weigh less, and have fewer cubs.

Polar Bear Habitat Threatened

Reports are showing a 7% reduction in ice cover in the last 25 years and a 40% loss of thickness. Polar bears must have an ice platform from which to hunt and in many areas are getting land-locked, unable to reach the seas where their seals swim. If the trend continues, by 2080 polar bears may be completely prevented from reaching their food source, seriously threatening their survival.

Thanks to Polar Bears International for much of the above information.
 

Add polar bear items to your home decorating and ocean decor!  Enjoy a beautiful handcarved polar bear sculpture, intricately detailed. Also, a beautifully designed cotton throw and pillow with an expressive polar bear. Wonderful items for your home-- or a gift for a polar bear lover!  One dollar from every sale goes to non-profit organizations to protect the ocean habitat.