Hobbies And Interests
Cold Climate Survival
The climate of the northern Arctic regions where the polar bear lives can reach temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). As a result the bear has several features to help it keep warm. A total of two layers of fur help insulate the bear and keep up its metabolic rate even when it isn't finding enough to eat. The bears also store a thick layer of beneath the fur, and the fat acts as additional insulation. The skin under the fur is actually black in order to absorb as much warmth from the sun as possible. The small features of the bear -- its ears and tail -- also help to reduce its loss of heat. Some heat can be lost through the nose, causing the bears to cover this feature with their paws to keep warm.
Hunting and Eating
Polar bears like to feed on the meat of seals and walruses. The bear has strong jaws to crush its prey. Polar bears often wait patiently by breathing holes or openings in the ice so they can grab a seal or walrus when it pokes its head out of the hole to breathe. Their strong jaws crush the head as they flip their prey onto the ice. Polar bears also stalk prey, creeping stealthily as they blend with surroundings until they are close enough to run and catch their prey.
Camouflage
Even though the polar bear is at the top of its food chain, it still requires methods of defense for its survival. One of these adaptations includes its white fur. Because the polar bear lives in cold, arctic regions of the world, it is often surrounded with white snow and ice. The polar bear's coat blends in with the natural environment, protecting it from hunters and allowing it to stalk prey without detection.
Swimming
A large part of a polar bear's habitat is cold water. In order to hunt and live, the bears must be able to swim. Certain adaptations allow polar bears to be a natural and efficient swimmer. Webbed toes increase the ability to paddle quickly through water. In addition, the polar bears' nostrils close, allowing them brief stays underwater.