Context: According to recent survey by the government, Polar bears in Canada’s Western Hudson Bay on the southern edge of the Arctic are continuing to die in high numbers. This has consequences for all other life forms in the region.
Habitat: Arctic Ocean, sea ice, and adjacent coastal areas
The largest bear in the world and the Arctic’s top predator, polar bears are a powerful symbol of the strength and endurance of the Arctic.
Considered talented swimmers, polar bears can sustain a pace of six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat like a rudder.
They have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat that insulates them from the cold air and wate
Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food.
A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables.
Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive.
Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in some areas, maternal dens.
