SPECIES
Polar bear
Ursus maritimus
An Arctic marine hunter uses sea ice as a platform to travel, rest and seek seals.
A polar bear’s habitat is both ice and sea. Its prey lives in an ocean food web, and the ice lets the bear reach it.
How big is a polar bear?
6–9 ft
What does a polar bear eat?
ringed and bearded seals
Where does a polar bear live?
Arctic
A sea bear on ice
A thick layer of fat and a water-repellent coat protect polar bears in cold air and water.
The Arctic is its hunting ground
Polar bears inhabit Arctic sea ice and nearby coasts, with different subpopulations across the circumpolar region.
When the ice changes
Climate-driven sea-ice loss reduces access to the habitat they use for hunting and travel.
Sources
Records of where it has been seen come live from GBIF; observed interactions from GloBI. Draft — not yet reviewed by a person.