Polar Bears Research Paper

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Pages: 5

Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) Did you know that polar bears are the largest carnivores on land? Polar bears have been on the news lately because of climate change, but there is a lot more to these furry beasts. They live in the icy climate in of the Arctic circle. Their main diet is seals and they mate in the spring. Polar bears can live to be more than 40 years old, and have a very keen sense of smell. In this paper you will learn about polar bear's physicals description, diet, behavior, habitat, life cycle, adaptations, and more!
Physical Description Polar Bears are large, furry mammals. The average male weighs 990 pounds and the average female weighs 550 pounds. They are about 6.6 feel high (on their hind legs) and can run up to 25 miles per hour. Even though they have a whitish-yellowish appearance, their long fur is actually clear. The get their pigment from their fur reflecting the sunlight.
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The oldest polar bear in the wild was 32 years old, and the oldest in captivity lived to be 45 years old! Males will usually fight over females. After they mate, they female will make her den (see behavior) and give birth to an average of two live cubs between December-January. In one female's lifetime she will give birth to about eight cubs. There they will drink her milk, and stay warm in her body warmth. Then in March-April they will start to take short field trips out of their den to learn about the real world. After two years they will go off on their own, and probably never see each other again. Polar bears will sleep at any point in the day for 7-8 hours in a small trench. The most common parasite in polar bears is the Parasitic Roundworm Trichinella, which they can get from eating infected seals. Another common problem polar bears face is overheating. They will often move slowly and rest often because their insulation keeps them so warm. Their insulation is one of the polar bears many