Overheating: Despite living in a cold environment, polar bears can easily overheat due to their thick fur and fat. They often take breaks while hunting or walking to avoid getting too warm.
Camouflage and Insulation: Polar bear fur appears white, but each hair is actually transparent and hollow. This structure not only provides excellent insulation but also helps them blend into the snowy landscape.
Detecting Prey: Polar bears have an extraordinary sense of smell, capable of detecting seals nearly a mile away and even under several feet of compacted snow and ice.
Marathon Swims: Polar bears are powerful swimmers, often covering distances of up to 60 miles in a single swim. They use their large front paws to paddle and their back legs to steer, allowing them to navigate through icy waters efficiently.
Fat Intake: Polar bears primarily eat seals, focusing on the high-fat content of seal blubber, which provides the necessary energy and insulation to survive in the Arctic. They can consume up to 100 pounds of blubber in one sitting.
Seasonal Feeding: During the spring and early summer, polar bears feast on seals and build up fat reserves. In the summer and fall, when the sea ice retreats, they may go for months without eating, relying on their fat reserves.