The largest land carnivore on Earth, the polar bear roams the frozen Arctic region, always on the prowl for a warm-blooded meal. When a polar bear rears up on its hind legs, it becomes a terrifying 12-foot giant looming over other creatures. At home in some of the world's coldest areas, these are not the playful, lovable bears you see in zoos.
Fast Feet: A polar bear's clawed paws cling to snow and ice like snow tires, enabling it to run up to 25 mph in pursuit of prey. Twelve-inch-wide paws spread out the bear's massive weight, keeping it from sinking into the snow.
Bear Necessity: The polar bear wears its own natural wet suit. Thick, woolly underfur and four inches of fat keep it warm in sub-zero temperatures. The bear's oily fur repels moisture, so it can shake off water easily, even when it has frozen into droplets of ice.
Patient Predator[]
Polar bears will scavenge for food. Here two bears feed on the carcass of a bowhead whale.
One of the polar bear's favorite hunting methods is to stake out the ice holes where seals come up for air. Using its wide white paw to disguise its black nose in the snow, the polar bear sits patiently, ready to snatch a seal from the water before it can take a breath. The bear's massive incisors shear through the seal's flesh and blubber as its canine teeth tear off pieces of meat.
Seal Seeker: A mother bear with cubs often gets food by crashing down on seal pups' birth lairs under snowdrifts. Baby seals are especially fat-just what a polar bear cub's diet needs.
Deadly Dads: The polar bear's only natural predator is other polar bears. Males fight-and occasionally kill one another-in bloody battles over females. They'll also kill male cubs that could become their future rivals.
Swimming Champs[]
A polar bear will swim from one ice floe to another in search of food. A layer of stiff outer hairs covers its thick underfur, helping the bear slide through the water faster. Fur and blubber keep the bear toasty warm as it swims more than 60 miles at a time. Dog-paddling with its wide, slightly webbed front paws, a bear uses its rear legs and paws as a rudder to keep it on course.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The polar bear is mentioned on several other cards:
- In connection with the bear's "prey" section, it is mentioned on the walrus's knowledge card as a predator.
- It is mentioned on the Killer Whale's trading card as prey.
- The polar bear is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Give 'Em A Hand! on Monster Mania 28.
- It is then featured as part of one of the example creatures in Create-A-Monster on Monster Mania 36.
- It is later featured in Where In The World? on Monster Mania 70.
- It is once again featured in Big & Small on Monster Mania 83.
- The subheading "Bear Necessity" is a reference to the "Bare Necessities" song from the 1967 Disney movie, The Jungle Book.