Polar bears

Wapusk National Park

 

A polar bear walking past the trail cameras.

A curious polar bear checking out the trail cameras.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A polar bear enters the left side of the frame, looking directly into the trail camera.

Polar bear fur has no pigment so it appears white, but often has a yellow tinge due to natural oils and dirt.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A polar bear approaches the cameras with full body in the frame.

Polar bears walk at a pace of 5-6 km/h, and can reach speeds of 40 km/h for brief periods of time.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

A polar bear looks over its shoulder as it wanders toward the trail camera.

The large claws of polar bears can be used for grip on the ice, and for holding onto prey.
© University of Saskatchewan

 

Possibly intrigued by the sound of the shutter, a polar bear approaches to investigate the trail camera.

During the summer months, bears spend their time inland, and move out towards the coastline when the temperatures fall.
Date: 2017:11:24 10:15:43
© University of Saskatchewan

Animated gifs

An animated gif shows a mother bear walk past the camera with two of her cubs behind her.
A female polar bear passes by the camera with two cubs, the second cub getting curious and going in for a closer look at the trail camera in the background.
An animated gif shows a polar bear walking past the camera on the tundra, with small amounts of snow on the ground during autumn.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are built to thrive in an arctic marine environment. Translucent fur covers a thick layer of fat, and their small ears and tails help to minimize heat loss. Polar bears have large paws that measure up to 30 cm across, and act as snowshoes and allow them to tread on thin ice. The large paws also assist while in the water, by acting as paddles, making them very efficient swimmers.

The polar bears of the Western Hudson Bay population are forced to come ashore when the ice on the Bay melts. Polar bears congregate along the coastline in Wapusk National Park in the fall, awaiting the arrival of the ice. On the ice the bears are able to hunt seals, the primary component of their diet. They must take advantage of this bountiful time of year, as they survive on stored fat reserves during the ice-free season on land.

Polar bears walk at a pace of 5-6 km/h, and can reach speeds of at least 40 km/h for brief periods of time. Moving at quick paces for extended periods of time can put the bears at risk of overheating when the weather is hot. Polar bears are so well insulated by fur and fat stores that their body temperature and metabolic rate remains constant even at temperatures as low as -37 degrees Celsius. On truly cold days, they will dig a shelter in a snow bank to limit heat loss.

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