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original ACEO by thebluewindmill
The Latin scientific name for a polar bear is Ursus maritimus, which means sea bear.
Some other names for polar bear are Ice Bear, Nanuk. Isbjorn, White Bear, Beliy Medved, Lord of the Arctic, Old man in the Fur Cloak, and White Sea Deer.
Polar bears evolved from “brown bear ancestors” approximately 200,000 years ago.
Polar bears range throughout the Artic where they hunt for their main food source, ringed and bearded seals, through ice openings. “Five nations have polar bear populations: the United States (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway.”
They are the animal kingdom’s largest non-aquatic predator.
Polar Bear moms usually bear two cubs, which stay with their mother for 2-1/2 years.
A polar bears height ranges from 8-10 feet.
Male polar bears weigh from 775lbs—1,700lbs and females weigh 330—700lbs.
At birth, polar bear cubs weigh only 1lb. and are 12-14 inches long.
Polar bears rely on stable pack ice for their survival. Due to melting ice floes, their habitat is being threatened by global warming!
Polar bears are specifically adapted for living on the ice. They don’t need water to survive since they get all of their liquid from the prey they eat.
Polar bears can travel thousands of miles per year following the advance and retreat of ice.
Polar bears have a home range that is far greater than any other bear. One bear’s range can be 45 times the size of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is home to approximately 400 black bears.
Polar bears are well insulated for cold climate—an average temperature of -29 degrees F in Jan. and Feb--with two layers of fur, and up to 10 cm or 3.9 in. of blubber. Their two layers of fur consist of a dense layer of underfur and an outer layer of guard hairs, which are actually transparent but can appear to white, yellow, or tan. Compact ears and tail also help conserve heat.
Polar Bears have dark blue-black skin under all that white fur, which help absorb the sun’s rays.
Polar bears have keen hearing as well as other sharp senses that help them survive.
Polar bears prefer to walk at a leisurely pace so they don’t overheat like they often do when they run.
Here are some ways for you to celebrate:
Visit your local zoo and see polar bears!
Watch a documentary on polar bears!
Wear white! Also feel free to wear white faux fur and many extra layers so you feel and look like a polar bear.
Be sure to dress your toddlers and dogs in their best white polar bear gear!
Practice the polar bear pose in yoga: Lie down on all fours like a polar bear and cover your nose with your “paws”!
http://www.ursainternational.org/PBS.html
Things -not- to do on National Polar Bear Day:
Stick out your tongue
(unless you’re an actual polar bear) !
Polar Bears have blue-black tongues, and
occasionally like to show them to people.
Happy Polar Bear Day !!
Resources:
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears/bear-essentials-polar-style/polar-bear-names
http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/polar-bears/bear-essentials-polar-style/polar-bear-basics
http://whyzz.com/why-do-polar-bears-have-a-blue-tongue
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/arctic/area/species/polarbear/polar_bear_facts/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Bear
Wonderful Heather ! THANKS so much for a fascinating presentation :) and for featuring my Papa Bear box :)
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