Polar Bear Day


The animal

A polar bear crosses ice in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. (AP photo by Subhankar Banerjee)

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Scientists believe polar bears descended from a group of brown bears that became isolated by glaciers in an area near Siberia. These bears underwent a rapid series of evolutionary changes in order to survive, including changes in the color of their fur, keener senses and sharper teeth.


A polar bear’s sense of smell is acute, and it is the animal's most important sense for detecting prey on land. A polar bear can smell a seal from miles away.


Polar bears are well adapted to the arctic climate, where winter temperatures can plunge to  50 degrees below zero. Polar bears are insulated by two layers of fur that help keep them warm. They also have a thick fat layer. 


FACT . . .

A polar bear can run faster on ice than a human can run on dry land. The bear can run as fast as 25 mph for short distances. When sprinter Usain Bolt set the world record for the 100-meter dash in 9.58 seconds, his average speed was 23.35 mph.