Day Two: Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus)

Name: Ursus Maritimus (Polar Bear)

Classification: Genus - Ursus
                        Family - Ursidae
                        Order - Carnivora
                        Class - Mammalia
                        Phylum - Chordata

Location: The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle adjacent to parts of Greenland, Alaska, Canda, and Russia

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (only an estimated 20,000 left in the wild)

General Information:
Polar bears are the largest land carnivore sharing the title with the kodiak bear. Adult males can weigh up to 1500lbs (oofah!) and adult females roughly half the size at 550lbs. These beautiful creatures spend most of their lives on sea ice. It is required by them to hunt, rest, and breed. Polar bears have an immense amount of blubber, about 3.9 inches worth, which works as insulation for surviving in the harsh cold climates they live in. Additionally, they can over heat in temperatures of 50 Degrees F (10 Celsius) which is become a recent issue as a threat to their survival.
Despite their reputation, unlike most other species of bear, the polar bear is not territorial. Normally, they are more cautious than aggressive and will choose first to escape and run in a threatening situation. While they normally live solitary lives, the polar bear develops well-grounded frienships with others and can often be observed playing with a fellow polar bear for hours at a time. Cubs are especially playful and are known to be nursing for 2 and a half years.

In Recent News:
The biggest threat to the polar bear is change in climates. Sea ice seasons are becoming shorter and shorter, and with that their ability to hunt for food is diminishing with a large percent of polar bears are malnourished and can not carry a cub full term. With the shorter ice season, more oil rigs are being built near the Arctic Circle. With this bears(no pun intended) the threat of oil spills. This issue can destroy the food chain for them, come in contact with the oil which in turn can be fatal.

you are welcome to check out any of the links I have posted to the right of this blog and find out more how you can help save these beautiful creatures.

references:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/polarbear/threats.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bear#Population_and_distribution