Bear Facts
Polar Bears in Motion
Locomotion on the Frozen Ocean
Click image to enlarge.
The polar bear's paws are superbly adapted to navigating in the Arctic.
Each paw measures up to 12 inches across (31 centimeters). The polar bear's large paws help distribute the animal's weight when it is treading on thin ice.
When the ice is very thin, polar bears crawl on their bellies to keep from breaking through. By crawling, the bears spread out their weight even more.
Polar bears have black footpads on the bottom of each paw. The pads are covered by small, soft bumps known as papillae. The papillae grip the ice and keep the bears from slipping.
Tufts of fur grow between the polar bear's toes and footpads. Like the papillae, the fur helps to keep the bears from slipping.
A polar bear's claws are thick and curved. Each can measure more than two inches (5.1 centimeters) long.
Running bear The polar bear's sharp, strong claws help the animal catch and hold its prey. The claws also provide traction on the ice.
Even though the polar bear's paws are well-designed for navigating the ice, the bears typically move slowly and methodically. They prefer to step on patches of snow rather than slippery ice.
When stalking a seal, the polar bear places each paw carefully on the snow to keep from alerting its prey with a crunch.
The polar bear's large paws are designed for use in the water as well as on the ice. The forepaws serve as large paddles when the bears are swimming, while the hind paws serve as rudders.
Sources: "North Stars" by Downs Matthews (Wildlife Conservation, January/February, 1999); The Polar Bear by Annie Hemstock (Capstone Press, Mankato, Minnesota, 1999), Polar Bears by Nikita Ovsyanikov (Voyageur Press, Stillwater, Minnesota, 1998); and Polar Bears by Ian Stirling (University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1998).
Each paw measures up to 12 inches across (31 centimeters). The polar bear's large paws help distribute the animal's weight when it is treading on thin ice.
When the ice is very thin, polar bears crawl on their bellies to keep from breaking through. By crawling, the bears spread out their weight even more.
Polar bears have black footpads on the bottom of each paw. The pads are covered by small, soft bumps known as papillae. The papillae grip the ice and keep the bears from slipping.
Tufts of fur grow between the polar bear's toes and footpads. Like the papillae, the fur helps to keep the bears from slipping.
A polar bear's claws are thick and curved. Each can measure more than two inches (5.1 centimeters) long.
Running bear The polar bear's sharp, strong claws help the animal catch and hold its prey. The claws also provide traction on the ice.
Even though the polar bear's paws are well-designed for navigating the ice, the bears typically move slowly and methodically. They prefer to step on patches of snow rather than slippery ice.
When stalking a seal, the polar bear places each paw carefully on the snow to keep from alerting its prey with a crunch.
The polar bear's large paws are designed for use in the water as well as on the ice. The forepaws serve as large paddles when the bears are swimming, while the hind paws serve as rudders.
Sources: "North Stars" by Downs Matthews (Wildlife Conservation, January/February, 1999); The Polar Bear by Annie Hemstock (Capstone Press, Mankato, Minnesota, 1999), Polar Bears by Nikita Ovsyanikov (Voyageur Press, Stillwater, Minnesota, 1998); and Polar Bears by Ian Stirling (University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1998).
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