13 Things You Probably Don't Know About Polar Bears

(and How to Help Save Polar Bears!) 

Polar bears are impressive creatures that stalk the colder parts of our planet. These giant bears, while particularly cute as cubs, are known for their incredible strength and capable hunting abilities.

Whether you are a polar bear enthusiast or just want to know a little more about these chilly friends, we have compiled a list of thirteen exciting polar bear facts for you.

1.  Polar Bears Are Considered Marine Mammals— Even though the majority of marine mammals tend to look a lot more like fish, polar bears still get the official classification. Despite the fact that they look like they belong on land more than the sea, they spend the majority of their time in the water.
2. They Have Black Skin To Keep Warm— Even though polar bears look white, they actually have black skin underneath their fur. Their black skin helps them to absorb warmth from the sun so that they can stay warm in the cold.
3. Polar Bears Touch Noses To Ask To Share Food— Every type of animal is known for having its own communication methods. When a polar bear wants to enjoy another bear’s catch, they will touch noses to ask for permission to do so.
   
4. They Need Ice To Survive— Polar bears don’t just walk around on the ice because they like it. It is actually a necessary part of their hunting process. They can’t catch seals openly in the water, which is why they use the ice to help them get dinner.
5. Their Scientific Name Is Ursus Maritimus— Polar bears have this exciting scientific name that translates to Maritime Bear. Maritime means sea, so they are really called sea bears.
6. Polar Bears Can Smell Prey Up To Almost Ten Miles Away— Polar bears have an amazing sense of smell that they use to hunt. These amazing beasts can smell prey (primarily seals) for just short of ten miles, which they use to be able to find dinner.
7. They Are The Largest Land Carnivore— Though the sea is filled with giant carnivores, polar bears are the largest on land. In fact, most people don’t realize just how giant these huge arctic beasts really are!
8. Polar Bear Fur Is Not Actually White— Polar bears look like they have white fur, but their fur is actually transparent. The fur is composed of hollow tubes that reflect light. This helps them to look white so that they can blend in with their surroundings.
9. Polar Bears Can Swim For Hours At A Time— Even though they lounge on land, polar bears spend the majority of their time swimming. They can even swim up to six miles per hour, which is more than double the average human speed!
10. They Can Run Incredibly Fast— You might think that seeing a polar bear would be pretty cool, but the truth is that they can be pretty dangerous. These beasts can run up to twenty-five miles per hour!
11. Baby Cubs Are The Size of A Rodent When Born— Polar bears are large creatures, but they start out very small. The average baby polar bear is closer to a giant rat in size when it is born.
    
    
12. Female Polar Bears Are Half The Size of Male Polar Bears— When you think about differences in genders, size tends to come into play. Male polar bears are twice the size of their female counterparts!
13. Polar Bears Are Predicted To Decline By 30% by 2050— Polar bears are beautiful and magnificent creatures, but their habitat is quickly declining. The places where polar bears live are being dramatically altered due to climate change and other man-made issues, making it difficult for polar bears to survive. In order to save polar bears, we need to enact changes now before their habitat is completely destroyed.

How You Can Help Save Polar Bears

Polar bears are truly amazing creatures that we should all want to learn more about. In order to make this possible, we must each do our part in making sure that these bears have what they need to survive. 

If you want to look cooler than a Polar Bear while helping their conservation, we have a special Polar Bear Collection that donates 10% of the proceeds from every sale to organizations that benefit polar bear conservation. 

At Greenhive Collective, we love Polar Bears International, the recognized leaders in polar bear conservation. By donating to great charities that support climate change research, we can all help to make sure the polar bears can continue to stalk the ice for some time to come!  For more information about polar bear conservation, please go to www.polarbearsinternational.org and find out how to get involved.

Sources:

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/polarbear.html

https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/polar-bear-facts/

https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/polar-bears

https://defenders.org/wildlife/polar-bear

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