Polar Bear is a large Arctic marine mammal specialized for hunting seals from sea ice. It occurs around the circumpolar Arctic, notably in Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland, Norway (Svalbard), and Russia, where it depends heavily on Arctic sea ice as a platform for travel and ambush hunting.
Notable as the world’s largest bear and among the most carnivorous of all bear species, the Polar Bear is a keystone predator shaping the Arctic food web. Its close tie to sea-ice seasonality also makes it one of the best-studied indicators of environmental change in high-latitude ecosystems.
The Polar Bear’s scientific name is Ursus maritimus, reflecting its strongly marine-oriented lifestyle compared with other bears. It is closely related to the Brown bear (often treated as a sister species), with evidence of historical hybridization where ranges overlap.
Adult Polar Bears show strong sexual dimorphism: males typically weigh about 350–700 kg (770–1,540 lb), while females commonly weigh 150–300 kg (330–660 lb). Body length is usually about 2.0–2.6 m (6.6–8.5 ft) for males and 1.8–2.4 m (5.9–7.9 ft) for females, with shoulder heights around 1.0–1.6 m when standing on all fours.
Despite appearing white, the fur is translucent and the skin beneath is black, helping absorb solar radiation. A thick blubber layer (often several centimeters) insulates against subzero temperatures, while large, wide forepaws act like snowshoes on ice and paddles in water; Polar Bears can swim for many hours, with recorded long-distance swims exceeding 100 km in open water.
The skull and neck are relatively elongated compared with many bears, aiding seal hunting at breathing holes. Their sense of smell is exceptionally acute, capable of detecting prey over kilometers under favorable conditions, an advantage in a landscape where food can be patchy.
Polar Bears occupy 19 recognized subpopulations across the Arctic, with core habitats along continental shelves, archipelagos, and seasonal pack ice. They use sea ice to reach seal-rich hunting areas, shifting their movements as the ice forms in autumn and retreats in spring and summer.
On land, Polar Bears may rest, scavenge, or travel between coastal areas, and pregnant females excavate maternity dens in snowdrifts or earthen slopes. Denning locations vary by region, but stable snow conditions and low disturbance are critical because cubs are born mid-winter and remain in the den for weeks before emerging.
Polar Bears are apex predators that obtain most of their calories from seals, especially the Ringed seal and Bearded seal. Ringed seals are often targeted at breathing holes and lairs, while bearded seals can provide a much larger meal but may be harder to subdue.
Their hallmark techniques include still-hunting at breathing holes, stalking hauled-out seals, and breaking into snow-covered lairs. When successful, they preferentially consume energy-rich blubber, which is essential for building fat reserves that sustain them through periods of reduced hunting opportunity.
Polar Bears are generally solitary outside of mating season and temporary aggregations at abundant food sources (such as whale carcasses). Typical top speeds on land can reach roughly 40 km/h (25 mph) over short bursts, but they rely more on stealth and timing than endurance chasing.
Lifespan is commonly about 15–18 years in the wild, though some individuals can reach their early-to-mid 20s; in captivity, Polar Bears can live 25–30 years with veterinary care and consistent food supply. Females usually first reproduce around 4–6 years of age, often raising 1–2 cubs (occasionally 3) that stay with the mother for about 2.5 years.
The Polar Bear is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (2015), primarily due to projected habitat loss. A widely cited global estimate is roughly 22,000–31,000 individuals in the wild (commonly summarized as around 26,000), though uncertainty varies by subpopulation and survey method.
The dominant long-term threat is the loss and shortening of the sea-ice hunting season driven by Climate change in the Arctic. Earlier spring breakup and later autumn freeze-up can reduce access to seals, lower body condition, and decrease cub survival, especially in regions where bears must fast on land for extended periods.
Additional pressures include industrial activity, pollutants transported to the Arctic, and increasing interactions near communities as bears search for food, raising risks of injury or death for both people and bears. Managing attractants (such as unsecured waste) and using deterrence programs are key tools for reducing Human–wildlife conflict while supporting coexistence.