Polar bears on the ice outside Grise Fiord. Matthew Mader photoPolar bears live only in the northern Arctic where they spend most of their time on ice floes. They are the largest land meat-eater in the world and the largest of the bear family. They are well suited to the cold Arctic ice and snow.
The average adult male is 8.5 ft. (2.6 m) and 900 lbs. The average adult female is 6.5 ft. (2 m) and 500 lbs. They have off-white fur with black nose, eyes and mouth.
The polar bear has many unique adaptations for dealing with the Arctic cold. Its skin is actually black, which allows it to soak up as much heat as possible from the sun. They are also great swimmers and will swim from ice floe to ice floe. They have been seen swimming 50 miles away from any ice or land.
Sexually mature at 4-8 years. Breed polygamously, April through June, with 1-3 cubs every 28 months. Pregnant females dig a den in October through December where cubs are born December to January and stay until March or April. Lactation lasts 28 months. May live 25-30 years.
Polar bears eat mostly ringed and bearded seals. They will occasionally eat other mammals, eggs, vegetation and beach-cast carrion. Polar bears don't drink water. They get all the liquids that they need from the animals that they eat.
