- They spend so much time in the ocean, polar bears are classified as marine mammals. The polar bear’s scientific name, Ursus maritimus, means “sea bear.”
- Polar bears evolved from brown bears to survive in extreme northern environments.
- Polar bears are the largest terrestrial predator on the planet, with large males standing more than 11 feet (3.3 meters) tall on their hind legs and reaching weights over 1,700 pounds (770 kilograms).
- Unlike black bears and brown bears, polar bears do not hibernate during the winter months because that’s when sea ice forms, which the polar bears need to hunt seals.
- Less than 2% of polar bears hunts are successful.
- You can extract DNA from their footprints.
- Polar bears evolved from brown bears to survive in extreme northern environments.
- Polar bears are the largest terrestrial predator on the planet, with large males standing more than 11 feet (3.3 meters) tall on their hind legs and reaching weights over 1,700 pounds (770 kilograms).
- Unlike black bears and brown bears, polar bears do not hibernate during the winter months because that’s when sea ice forms, which the polar bears need to hunt seals.
- Less than 2% of polar bears hunts are successful.
- You can extract DNA from their footprints.
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