Polar Bear Information - An Endangered Species

The polar bear, also named ursus maritimus, is one of the most impressive marine mammals in existence. This polar bear information fact sheet addresses some of the particulars of the reproduction and birthing of polar bear cubs and additional polar bear activity.

The polar bear comes home in a lethargic condition to its hollowed out winter home. Males normally den from late November to late January, but females den for a more extended period of time, from November to March, during which time they have their cubs. The cubs stay with their mother for about a year and a half.

One of the most extensive denning areas for polar bears is the lowlands of Hudson Bay and James Bay--the only known location where polar bears den in earth rather than in snow--where by digging down to the permafrost they choose to dig out caves in lake and stream banks and peat hummocks. It is believed that they might use these permafrost dens to find shade in the summer time.

Nearly all polar bears meet their future mates in a large seal-hunting habitat (singles bar for polar bears). As female polar bears don't breed yearly or even every other year, getting a date could be a problem! Thus, competition for the attention of a female can be extremely fierce. The males usually battle one another for the privilege of mating, sometimes savagely. Oh yes, and don't forget to add in the fact that females happen to bask in a lengthy chase and will lead the male polar bear on a merry one indeed -- for miles and miles across its range, as many as 60 miles! This type of wooing is definitely not for the bashful or the weak at heart.

Although mating takes place in late March to mid-July, females delay implantation of its fertilized eggs until early fall when it digs out and enters its den, giving birth a month or two later. To carry off a successful pregnancy and denning, the pregnant female must greatly increase her weight, mostly in fat, at the time when polar bear activity is at it's greatest. The denned sow often goes without food or water for as long as nine months-- one of the most amazing tidbits of polar bear information. The cubs are born in December or January, usually a pair of fur balls. They weigh in at about 1 to 1.5 pounds. When cubs leave their den in March or April, the cubs will weigh 25 to 30 pounds.

Adult female bears with cubs hunt about 19% of their time during the spring and about 38% of their time during the summer. On occasion, adult and sub-adult (ages 30 months to 5 or 6 years) polar bear males will feed and travel together for short periods of time.

One of the most decisive pieces of polar bear information is that these animals are an imperiled species, and a combination of education about bears combined with a national conservation policy is needed to ensure that these magnificent ambassadors of arctic wildlife continue to survive, notwithstanding the continuing trespass into their habitat and the endless search for resources, which fouls and despoils the pristine wilderness which these animals call home. Polar bear activity can only continue if we support their right to exist.