Polar bears are the top predator in the arctic marine ecosystem and the largest terrestrial carnivore. They evolved from brown bears during the Pleistocene, the time period that spanned from 1.8 million to 11,000 years ago.

The polar bear’s coat, covering it completely except for the nose and foot pads, is superbly adapted to Arctic environments. Along with a thick layer of body fat, the water-repellent coat insulates the bear from cold air and water. It also serves as camouflage; in fact, polar bears can sometimes pass as snow drifts. Surprisingly, the fur has no white pigment.

Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can sustain a pace of 10 km/h by using their front paws like oars while their hind legs are held flat like a rudder. Adult males typically measure 6.5 to 8 feet from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail and weigh 880-1300 lbs. Females are about half this size. The bear’s body and neck are elongated, and the head is narrow and long with small, rounded ears.

They spend much of their time at or near the edge of the pack ice. This is where they are most likely to find food. As the southern edge of the arctic ice cap melts in summer, some bears will follow the retreating ice north to stay close to seals and other prey. Other bears spend their summers on land, living off body fat stored from successful hunting in the spring and winter. When the ice returns in the fall, the bears leave land to resume life on the sea ice.    Go to more of WWF’s Polar Bear Overview.

POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL is a wildlife educational and outreach site that works only on behalf of Polar Bears.

Polar Bears International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the worldwide conservation of the polar bear and its habitat through research and education. We provide scientific resources and information on polar bears and their habitat to all interested parties.

Since this is there only focus, the site has plenty of detailed information on Polar Bears and the people who research them. Here you will find up to the minute news about the bears, great video footage from the arctic circle, and information on how you can get involved.

THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION website is loaded with facts about wildlife preservation,  climate change, and many endangered species.  Their page on Polar Bears is full of detailed information including downloadable pages on Polar Bear facts, videos, quizes and even a polar bear e-card that you can send a friend.

Global warming is causing polar bears to become a threatened species. United States Geological Survey scientists conservatively project that two-thirds of the polar bear population in the world could disappear by 2050, including all of Alaska’s polar bears.

The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY which publishes the most popular magazine covering the fate of our world, has an excellent website– featuring wildlife, environment and culture around the globe.  Here’s an excerpt from their Polar Bear page:

These powerful predators typically prey on seals. In search of this quarry they frequent areas of shifting, cracking ice where seals may surface to breath air. They also stalk ice edges and breathing holes. If the opportunity presents itself, polar bears will also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. These Arctic giants are the masters of their environment and have no natural enemies.

Females den by digging into deep snow drifts, which provide protection and insulation from the Arctic elements. They give birth in winter, usually to twins. Young cubs live with their mothers for some 28 months to learn the survival skills of the far north. Females aggressively protect their young, but receive no help from their solitary male mates. In fact, male polar bears may even kill young of their species.

Polar bears are attractive and appealing, but they are powerful predators that do not typically fear humans, which can make them dangerous. Near human settlements, they often acquire a taste for garbage, bringing bears and humans into perilous proximity.  Read more National Geographic.

]]> http://savemypolarbear.info/?feed=rss2&p=73 2 http://savemypolarbear.info/?p=70 http://savemypolarbear.info/?p=70#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:33:00 +0000 admin http://savemypolarbear.info/?p=70 Why does everybody start talking about global warming when polar bears are mentioned? Well, the polar bear has become a symbol for the environmental changes happening because of earth’s warming climate. Polar Bears hunt on the ice, the ice is melting, the bears can’t hunt, and they starve. Because they live in the arctic circle, they are one of the first species to be effected by climate change.

If you are interested in learning more about global warming, check out some of the links below.

Kids vs Global warming has a terrific graphic primer on why the earth is warming.

The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY has been documenting the changes to our environment for decades.  Their website has terrific information and stories about the impact of climate change on wildlife and culture.

The Planet is heating up.  Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are drying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It’s becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century’s warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are higher now than in the last 650,000 years. Read more at National Geographic.

The WORLD WILDLIFE FUND has been leading the charge in environmental protection:

Climate change has been a priority for WWF for over 20 years as climate disruption poses a fundamental threat to the vulnerable places, species and people WWF seeks to protect.

To adequately slow climate change we urgently must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. We are leveraging the power of WWF’s network of organizations around the world to build support for the new post-2012 global climate agreement at Copenhagen that is fair, effective and science-based.

To learn more at WWF including what you can do to help go to their Global Warming page.

The NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION also has many educational programs about global warming.

Global Warming is the single biggest threat to wildlife today. Global warming is happening faster than predicted even several years ago, with many natural systems already seriously impacted. Overwhelming scientific evidence supports reducing carbon pollution that causes global warming as much as possible and as quickly as possible.

National Wildlife Federation works to reach that goal by demanding climate change legislation that includes a cap-and-trade system and dedicated funding to address the impacts of global warming on America’s natural resources. Visit the Climate Action Center today or read our report Investing in America’s Natural Resources.  Read more about global warming at NWF.

The United States Government also has information on climate change.  Check out the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S main Global Warming site.  Or take a look at their excellent site designed for kids:

The Greenhouse Effect: Scientists are sure about the greenhouse effect. They know that greenhouse gases make the Earth warmer by trapping energy in the atmosphere.

Climate Change: Climate is the long-term average of a region’s weather events lumped together. For example, it’s possible that a winter day in Buffalo, New York, could be sunny and mild, but the average weather – the climate – tells us that Buffalo’s winters will mainly be cold and include snow and rain. Climate change represents a change in these long-term weather patterns. They can become warmer or colder. Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or decrease.

Global Warming: Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth’s temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities.

There are lots of environmental sites on the web that deal with global warming.  Here are a few more:

The Natural Resources Defence Council

The Sierra Club

Global Warming.Org

350.org

Kids will have to live with the future of climate change, so they should be part of the solution.  This page features some links to sites on the web that tell you how to get involved– in your home, at your school, and on a national level.  Whether it’s encouraging your family to turn out the lights and wear a sweater, starting a recycling program at school or joining kids across America to force action on climate change, you can become a part of the solution.

One of my favorite sites KIDS VS GLOBAL WARMING was started by a 12 year old!

Kids vs Global Warming is a non profit organization founded and led by Alec Loorz, who is now 14 years old.  We are a group of kids that Educate other kids about the science of global warming and Empower them to take action.

Through educational presentations, community activism projects, multi-media, and leadership training, we empower youth to use their voice, and remind kids that WE MATTER! and there really is  something we do something about global warming.

Here is a video with Alec and Al Gore who has some words for kids on how important they are:

There is a lot of great stuff at this site including practical tips on how to start saving energy today.

STOP GLOBAL WARMING has a great page about all the things you can do at your school:

Take Action at School!

Throughout history, students have been the driving force in social change. Now more than ever is the time for students across the country to become global warming activists and join the movement.

On this page you will find tips for stopping global warming that your class or school can do today. You don’t have to do everything, but we all need to do something! Get started in your school and keep us posted with results.  Keep reading classroom tips.

TAKING IT GLOBAL is an online community that provides ways for kids to learn and share their projects about global concerns.

The Vision
Youth everywhere actively engaged and connected in shaping a more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable world.
Our Mission
We enable a collaborative learning community which provides youth with access to global opportunities, cross-cultural connections and meaningful participation in decision-making.

They also have a cool GAME PAGE.

CHANGE.ORG is all about action–things you and your parents can do to effect change locally and in Washington.  They have a terrific action page on Polar Bears and global warming:

Although polar bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act last year, the outgoing Bush/Cheney administration bowed to the oil and gas interests and issued a rule which prevents the law from protecting bears against activities that cause global warming, denying these beloved animals protections that are vital to their survival.  Send a letter to the Secretary of the Interior!

They also have a fun page on BICYCLES with all the reasons to get out on your bike.

One of the most straightforward ways any of us can help curb global warming is to drive less, and bicycle more.

Do you or someone you know have a great idea for a project but need some funds to make it happen?  Check out DO SOMETHING.org they have a grants page.

Did you create a sustainable community action project, program or organization that you want to grow? Do you need money to put your ideas into action? We give out a $500 Do Something Grant every week to help young people just like YOU!

The WORLD WILDLIFE FEDERATION

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION