Transcript Arctic Animals - Westfield State University: Department of

Arctic Animals
Polar Bears
Characteristics of Polar Bears
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A group of polar bears is called a
"Celebration of Polar Bears".
Polar bears can grow to 10 feet
long and weigh 1,700 pounds.
Males are bigger than females.
Strong sense of smell.
Run up to 40 mph.
Wide front paws with webbed
toes.
Paddle with front feet, steer with
hind feet.
Paw pads have rough surfaces
to help polar bears from slipping
on the ice.
Polar Bears Have:
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Small heads.
Powerful jaws.
Black noses.
Black tongues.
Small flat tails.
42 teeth.
All About Polar Bears
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Polar bears have two types of fur.
Thick, woolly fur close to the skin.
Hollow guard hairs stick up and
protect the bears from getting wet.
These guard hairs are like drinking
straws, clear-colored (not white).
The white-looking coat
camouflages them in the snow and
ice.
Under the fur, polar bears have
black skin.
Have a thick layer of fat (up to 4
inches thick) under the skin.
Where Can You Find Polar
Bears?
• The polar bear or the sea/ice bear
are the world's largest land
predators.
• Can be found in the artic, the
U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia,
Denmark (Greenland), and
Norway. .
• Each of these countries either
banned hunting or established
rules for how many polar bears
you can hunt.
• Today, 25,000 to 40,000 polar
bears roam the arctic.
Polar Bears and Their Families
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Pregnant females polar bears (called
sows) build snow dens.
Give birth to 1-3 cubs.
Cubs are born 12 to 14 inches long and
weigh little more than a pound.They are
blind, toothless, and covered with short,
soft fur.
Completely dependent on mother for
warmth and food.
Cubs normally stay with the mother for
the first two years.
Cubs are much smaller than human
babies when born.
Male polar bears (called boars) are
active all year.
How Do Polar Bears Hunt?
• In cold weather, polar bears, except pregnant females, head out
onto the ice to hunt seals.
• Have been spotted hundreds of miles from shore.
• When the ice is very thin, polar bears crawl on their bellies to
keep from breaking the ice and falling in.
• Polar bears spend as much time on ice as they do on land.
What Polar Bears Eat
• Polar bears are
carnivores (meat-eaters).
• Hunt and catch their prey
in the water.
• Eat mostly seals.
• Stomach can hold up to
150 pounds.
• Polar bears don't drink
water.
How Polar Bears Communicate
With Each Other?
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Use body language and sounds.
A deep growl gives a warning to other bears.
Growls are commonly used to defend their food source.
To beg food from another bear, polar bears will approach slowly, circle
around the food, and then softly offer a nose-to-nose greeting.
When a polar bear wants to play with another polar bear , he wags his
head from side to side.
An adult bear will stand on his hind legs, chin lowered to chest and front
paws hanging by his side.
Angry polar bears make loud roars and growls.
Mother bears scold their cubs with a low growl or a soft cuff.
Sounds of a Polar Bear
Polar Bear Finger Play
• One momma bear curled up in a
ball (hug yourself)
• Two babies sleeping, so furry and
small (use hands to lean head on)
• Three frisky bears tumble in the
snow(making fists, turn in a circle)
• Four bears paddle “go bears go”
(moving both hands and arms to
represent moving water)
Thank You
• www.nationalgeographic.com/kids
• www.polarbearsinternational.org/photogallery
• www.junglewalk.com/sound/polar-bearsounds.htm