Polar Bear

Polar Bears are always associated with the great state of Alaska. They are a unique part of the amazing wildlife that is found throughout the state. These large animals are found in the northern region of Alaska where the terrain is icy and the climate harsh.

An adult male polar bear is approximately 8 ½ feet long and 4 feet tall at the shoulders with an average weight of 900 to 1,400 pounds. Females are typically much smaller measuring 6 ½ feet long and weighing in at 500 pounds. All year round they remain a white-yellowish color. Their life span is around 25 to 30 years.

Polar bears are often categorized as marine animals because of their great swimming skills. The scientific name for polar bear is "Ursus maritimus" meaning sea bear in Latin. Polar bears are great and powerful swimmers because of their large webbed feet. They can paddle up to 6 ½ miles an hour and will dive to depths of 30 feet. Because these animals spend so much time in the cold icy waters they are equipped with a thick layer of blubber under their thick fur.

Their mating season takes place between the months of March and May. Females give birth in December or January. Polar Bears are truly some of the greatest mammals of Alaska.

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Text by: Alaska's Mammals,
Animals of the Far North,
The Alaska Almanac 19th Edition (Pg. 74-75)
Photo by: AK Division of Tourism

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