Polar Bears
Ferocious, iconic and undeniably cute, polar bears are an endangered species that have captured hearts around the world.
Their habitat makes up only a small portion of our planet, and the effects of climate change on their icy living environment are destructive, making it difficult for the bears to survive.
There’s a lot you may not know about these arctic bears, so check out these ten fascinating facts on our polar pals.
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10 Super Awesome Facts About Polar Bears
Beautiful yet brutal, furry yet ferocious; these epic carnivores are full of surprises.
There’s a lot you may not know about these arctic bears, so check out these ten fascinating facts on our polar pals.
Here we go…
1. They don't need to be present to submit a DNA sample - it can be extracted from their footprint
2. 'Grolar' and 'Pizzly' bears are real, and they're hybrid polar bears/grizzy bears
3. They're the only bear species that's considered to be a marine mammal
4. A male polar bear can outweigh a human man by ten times
5. Their bodies are designed to allow them to swim for extremely long periods of time
6. Although climate change is a huge environmental threat to their species, it's not the only one
7. Their sense of smell is absolutely amazing
8. Their population is so threatened that it may decrease by 30% as soon as 2050
9. Although polar bears look white, they're actually black
10. Their odds of finding food while hunting aren't great
How to Help Save Polar Bears
Polar bears are iconic and loved throughout the world. And yet despite this, these awesome creatures are in serious trouble.
Global warming is causing their sea ice habitat to dwindle thus threatening their very existence.
Want to know more and possibly get involved? Here’s how you can help.
Polar Bears International
Polar Bears International prioritizes the mission to save these beautiful bears from their endangered status, and have created a site with a list of ways that people from all walks of life can best help polar bears — this includes teachers, students, scientists, business owners, and even corporations. Two standout options are their Save our Sea Ice Campaign, which encourages people of all ages to make daily life changes and commitments to reduce climate change, and their Petition for Polar Bears, which U.S. citizens can sign to encourage the president to charge a fair price for carbon.
The World Wildlife Federation
The WWF is all about saving endangered creatures around the globe, and they’ve also taken up the fight to save the polar bears. Generous helpers can choose to adopt a polar bear on the WWF website for a monthly donation starting at $3. Adopters will receive a cuddly stuffed bear to represent the polar bear they’ve adopted, a pack of polar bear facts with fun stickers and bookmarks, and updates on how their gift is benefiting the work done by the WWF.
America’s Natural Resource Defense Council
America’s Natural Resource Defense Council exists to protect our planet, its inhabitants, and its resources. They’ve made a point to address the threats faced by polar bears, including both climate change and hunting. Citizens are more than welcome to get involved with the NRDC, and can contact the organization through their website for tips on how to help.
The Most Awesome Polar Bear Videos on the Internet
After watching more than 17 hours of polar bear videos, we think we’ve unearthed the very best on the internet.
Check out these four fantastic videos to see the different sides of these awesome bears.
The Life of a Baby Polar Bear
Polar bears are undeniably ferocious predators. Like many of such animals, they start out quite small and cute, and most of their first year of life is spent fighting the elements, their natural predators, and resource scarcity. National Geographic beautifully captures the peril and triumph of a cub’s first year in this video.
Wild Polar Bear Tries To Break In
The intrepid human explorers who put themselves in the path of polar bears to get incredible footage face some unique risks, including the potential that a wandering bear might consider them a potential snack. In this video, BBC Earth’s Gordon Buchanan faces just such a situation with remarkable calm.
How to Play Like a Polar Bear!
The same remarkable sense of smell that lets polar bears detect prey from nearly a kilometer in distance comes in handy when it’s time for them to socialize with a mate — they can smell another bear from the same distance, and will even spend weeks tracking a female that’s ready for mating, as this BBC Earth video notes.
There’s a Polar Bear in My Pool!
Most of us could never imagine kissing a polar bear on the nose, but Canadian animal trainer Marc Dumas has a friendly polar bear living in his own backyard — and she’s no stranger to hugs, kisses, and doing remarkable tricks, as this video from Barcroft TV demonstrates.
Perfect Polar Bear Projects
Looking for easy-peasy polar bear projects that use supplies you probably already have on hand?
We’ve got just the thing!
These are our absolute favorite arctic craft activities to keep the whole family busy.
DIY PAPER PLATE POLAR BEAR
First up is this paper plate polar bear craft from the experts at Little Bins for Little Hands, which is perfect for preschool-aged kids and looks great on display.
Polar Bear Finger Puppets
Young artists will love recreating the newspaper-based polar bear art project from Rachel at I Heart Crafty Things. It creates a really cute and charming finished project that won’t look just like all their other crafts, plus it offers kids a fun example of how to upcycle effectively.
WINTER BEAR KIDS SNACK
Trapped inside on a snowy day? It’s the perfect time to whip up these adorable little polar bear snacks from Totally The Bomb. They’re fun to put together, and so simple that kids can safely help with no issues. They’re also really tasty, so we won’t tell anyone if you eat a polar-bear-sized portion.
Printable Polar Bear Masks
Looking for a fun polar bear printable?
We’ve got a great selection of original masks. They make for an easy activity and are great for dressing up.
Just print, stick to cardboard, cut out, and decorate. Simple!
1) Right-click image (2) Save to Your Computer (3) Print
Celebrate International Polar Bear Day
International Polar Bear Day takes place on February 27th.
Organized by Polar Bears International, the event is all about celebrating the magnificence of these beautiful bears, spreading awareness of their endangered status, and encouraging citizens to make life changes that will have a positive impact on our changing climate.
What’s International Polar Bear Day?
People are encouraged to celebrate International Polar Bear Day by consciously reducing their carbon output, which can be done by reducing thermostat temperature, choosing energy efficient appliances and insulation, and choosing walking or bike riding over driving. In a prime example of making an environmentally conscious choice, the University of Saskatchewan chooses to honor the day by decreasing both their heating and air conditioning by two degrees Celsius, reducing their carbon emissions by two-thousand tons.
Around the world, many zoos and animal sanctuaries choose to celebrate the day by educating visitors about polar bears, their life cycle, and the threats their species is currently facing. Additionally, Polar Bears International broadcasts special programming throughout the day on their website and social media feeds and offers viewers the opportunity to chat live with polar bear experts to learn more about efforts to save the remarkable bears.
So, go on, put it in your calendar, get your arctic activities prepared, and spread the word!
- More from Play