polar bear

The polar bear is the largest land carnivore and has a reputation as the only animal that actively hunts humans. Polar bears are a potentially endangered species living in the circumpolar north. They are animals which know no boundaries. Polar bears have wide front paws with slightly webbed toes that help them swim. They paddle with their front feet and steer with their hind feet. Fur even grows on the bottom of their paws, which protects against cold surfaces and provides a good grip on ice. Male polar bears may grow 10 feet tall and weigh over 1400 pounds. Females reach seven feet and weigh 650 pounds. In the wild polar bears live up to age 25.The bear's stark white coat provides camouflage in surrounding snow and ice. But under their fur, polar bears have black skin the better to soak in the sun's warming rays. The main threat to polar bears today is the loss of their icy habitat due to climate change. The polar bear is the largest land carnivore and has a reputation as the only animal that actively hunts humans.Polar bears depend on the sea ice for hunting, breeding, and in some cases to den.