Polar Bear
pictures and facts
Take a guess!
What color is a polar bear's skin?
Source: National Geographic Kids Magazine: Polar Bears, by Kathy Kranking
Polar Bear and Cubs
Image Source: Steve Amstrup, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Fact: While a polar bear's skin is black, their hollow guard hairs are actually transparent; reflected sunlight gives them the appearance of being white.
Source: Polar Bears.
Polar Bear - Cub of the Year
Image Source: Susanne Miller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Fact: According to biologist Ian Stirling of the Canadian Wildlife Service, the weight of adult polar bears and birthrate of cubs are both down approximately 10% from 1980. This may be due to climate change, as spring breakup is coming earlier than it used to and bears need the ice to use as platforms for hunting. The more ice, the greater their hunting range.
Source: National Geographic, February 2004, Polar Bears, White on White, by John L. Eliot, page 36.
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Image Source for Polar Bears at top of page: Mike Dunn, NC State Museum of Natural Sciences, NOAA Climate Program Office, NABOS 2006 Expedition.