Are bears apex predators12/5/2023 ![]() Less sea ice also means that the bears must spend more time on land, increasing conflicts with people. Climate change has caused a decline in sea ice, giving the polar bear less access to its favoured prey and increasing the risk of malnutrition and starvation. Its biggest threats are climate change, pollution and energy development. The polar bear is considered to be a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with an estimated total population of 22,000 to 31,000 individuals. Young stay with their mother for up to two and a half years. Mothers give birth to cubs in maternity dens during the winter. During the breeding season, male bears guard females and defend them from rivals. Polar bears are usually solitary but can be found in groups when on land. Other prey include walruses, beluga whales and some terrestrial animals. The bear primarily feeds on the seal's energy-rich blubber. Such prey is typically taken by ambush the bear may stalk its prey on the ice or in the water, but also will stay at a breathing hole or ice edge to wait for prey to swim by. They are mostly carnivorous and specialized for preying on seals, particularly ringed seals. They prefer the annual sea ice but live on land when the ice melts in the summer. Polar bears are both terrestrial and pagophilic (ice-living) and are considered to be marine mammals due to their dependence on marine ecosystems. The paws are large and allow the bear to walk on ice and paddle in the water. Its teeth are sharper and more adapted to cutting meat. ![]() ![]() It is more slender than the brown bear, with a narrower skull, longer neck and lower shoulder hump. The polar bear is white- or yellowish-furred with black skin and a thick layer of fat. The species is sexually dimorphic, as adult females are much smaller. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivore, with adult males weighing 300–800 kg (660–1,760 lb). It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can interbreed. The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas.
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