Polar bears are solitary hunters that ambush ringed seals at breathing holes, relying on sea ice over the continental shelf across the Arctic Circle. Their life cycle—from April–June mating with delayed implantation and 4–8 month denning to cub emergence in March–April—interacts with fierce male competition. This page also examines how warming and sea-ice loss drive declines in some subpopulations, while others remain comparatively stable.
Key Takeaways
- Polar bears are solitary hunters, ambushing ringed seals at breathing holes.
- Mating occurs April-June on sea ice, with delayed implantation up to 8 months.
- Females den for 4-8 months, emerging with cubs in March-April.
- Global polar bear population estimated at 22,000-31,000 individuals across 19 subpopulations.
- Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation declined 40% from 1,500 to 900 bears (2001-2010).
- Chukchi Sea subpopulation stable at ~3,000 bears, highest density.
- Polar bears consume 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fat daily during peak hunting.
- Ringed seals comprise 60-90% of their diet by biomass.
- Bearded seals make up 10-30% of diet, providing higher energy yields.
- Polar bears primarily inhabit the Arctic Circle, spanning 19 subpopulations across Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Norway.
- They rely on annual sea ice over the continental shelf for hunting, covering up to 300,000 km² in key areas.
- The Chukchi Sea subpopulation roams an area of about 400,000 km².
- Adult male polar bears typically weigh between 350 to 700 kg (772 to 1,543 lbs), with some reaching up to 800 kg.
- Adult female polar bears weigh 150 to 550 kg (331 to 1,212 lbs) on average.
- Polar bears have black skin under their white fur, which helps absorb heat from the sun.
Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals, and shrinking ice has driven major population declines.
Related reading
01 · Category
Behavior And Ecology27 stats
01
Polar bears are solitary hunters, ambushing ringed seals at breathing holes.
02
Mating occurs April-June on sea ice, with delayed implantation up to 8 months.
03
Females den for 4-8 months, emerging with cubs in March-April.
04
Adult males fight aggressively for mates, inflicting deep wounds with claws.
05
Cubs stay with mothers for 2-3 years, learning hunting skills.
06
Polar bears can remain motionless at seal holes for up to 12 hours.
07
They exhibit play behavior, wrestling and chasing to build strength.
08
Home ranges average 50,000-350,000 km² for females, larger for males.
09
Cannibalism occurs in nutrient-stressed males targeting cubs.
10
Polar bears vocalize with chuffing, whining, and growls during interactions.
11
They cache food kills under snow to prevent theft by other bears.
12
Maternal females reduce activity by 80% during denning to conserve energy.
13
Males roam widely post-mating, traveling up to 100 km/day.
14
Polar bears investigate human settlements more frequently during ice-free periods.
15
They use still-hunting 40% of the time, stalking 30%, and aquatic stalking 20%.
16
Infanticide by males is documented in 20-30% of observed cub losses.
17
Diving depth max 500m, average 3-4m for hunting.
18
Males court females with prolonged following, up to weeks.
19
Family breakup at 2.4 years, cubs 50-70kg weight.
20
Aggression peaks in autumn, with 40% males injured.
21
They mark territories with urine and scratches on ice.
22
Sleep 7-19 hours/day, more during fasting.
23
Response to helicopters: 50% flee, 30% ignore at >500m.
24
Cubs practice stalking mother's tail for months.
25
Hyperphagia phase: eat 90% day pre-denning.
26
Social tolerance low, fights last 15-60 min.
27
Night activity peaks 2200-0400h for hunting.
Interpretation
Behavior And Ecology Interpretation
Under Behavior And Ecology, polar bears rely on long, solitary waiting and careful seasonal reproduction, with some hunting pauses lasting up to 12 hours at breathing holes and females spending 4 to 8 months denning after April to June mating.
02 · Category
Conservation And Population28 stats
01
Global polar bear population estimated at 22,000-31,000 individuals across 19 subpopulations.
02
Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation declined 40% from 1,500 to 900 bears (2001-2010).
03
Chukchi Sea subpopulation stable at ~3,000 bears, highest density.
04
Western Hudson Bay declined 30% from 1,200 to 800 (1987-2017).
05
IUCN lists polar bears as Vulnerable, with sea ice loss as primary threat.
06
Kane Basin growing at 12% annually to ~200 bears.
07
Human-bear conflicts increased 3-fold in Arctic communities since 2000.
08
Trophy hunting quota: 600-800 bears annually under international management.
09
Cub production rates down 15% in 9 of 19 subpopulations.
10
Shipping traffic in Arctic increased 50% (2013-2022), disturbing habitats.
11
Oil and gas development affects 20% of occupied denning habitat.
12
Climate models predict 30% population loss by 2050 under moderate warming.
13
Barents Sea subpopulation increased to 3,000+ due to sea ice persistence.
14
Disease risks rising, with trichinella in 50% of tested bears.
15
Lancaster Sound stable at 2,500 bears, good body condition.
16
Gulf of Boothia: 2,600 bears, stable.
17
Norwegian Bay: ~200 bears, data deficient.
18
Queen Elizabeth Islands: 2,000 bears, increasing.
19
Tourism encounters: 5,000/year in Churchill, managed deterrence.
20
Cub survival: 65-72% to age 3 in good ice years.
21
Contaminant PCBs down 30% since 1980s bans.
22
Projected: 7 subpopulations stable, 7 declining, 3 increasing by 2025.
23
Relocation programs moved 100+ problem bears since 2010.
24
Sea ice extent loss: 13%/decade since 1979.
25
Condition index down 11% in 10 subpopulations.
26
900 polar bears estimated in the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation (2001–2010 average).
27
1,500 polar bears estimated in the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation (2001–2010 average).
28
800 polar bears estimated in the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation (1987–2017).
Interpretation
Conservation And Population Interpretation
From a conservation and population perspective, the species is still estimated at 22,000 to 31,000 bears overall, but several key subpopulations have fallen sharply such as Western Hudson Bay down 30% from 1,200 to 800 and the Southern Beaufort Sea down 40% from 1,500 to 900, even as the Chukchi Sea holds steady near 3,000 and Kane Basin is rising 12% annually toward about 200.
report visual · Comparison
Estimated polar bear numbers by Arctic subpopulation
Across Arctic subpopulations in the provided estimates, the Southern Beaufort Sea is the largest share of the selected group, leading over Western Hudson Bay by a clear margin in e
1,500 polar bears estimated in the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation (2001–2010 average).1,500 bears
900 polar bears estimated in the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation (2001–2010 average).900 bears
800 polar bears estimated in the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation (1987–2017).800 bears
source-verifiedcanada.ca2001
03 · Category
Diet And Feeding26 stats
01
Polar bears consume 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of fat daily during peak hunting.
02
Ringed seals comprise 60-90% of their diet by biomass.
03
Bearded seals make up 10-30% of diet, providing higher energy yields.
04
They can eat 45 kg (100 lbs) of seal blubber in one sitting.
05
In summer fasting, they lose 1 kg (2.2 lbs) per day from fat reserves.
06
Polar bears scavenge whale carcasses opportunistically, gaining 10-20% calories.
07
Birds and eggs contribute <5% to annual caloric intake.
08
They prefer seal pups, which are 50% fat by weight.
09
Digestive efficiency for fat is 97%, for protein 85-90%.
10
Annual energy needs: 1.2 million kcal for females, 2.4 million for males.
11
Increasingly foraging on berries and seaweed, up to 20% terrestrial diet in some areas.
12
They drink seawater minimally, relying on metabolic water from fat.
13
Harp seals are emerging as 15% diet in eastern subpopulations.
14
Cubs weaned at 2.5 years start with smaller prey like fish.
15
Annual seal kill: 40-50 for successful females.
16
Blubber caloric density: 9.4 kcal/g vs. lean meat 1.2 kcal/g.
17
Fasting endurance: 180 days on 4 million kcal reserves.
18
Stomach capacity: 68-90 kg post-fast.
19
Mercury levels in liver: 50-100 ppm, toxic threshold 30ppm.
20
Kelp/seaweed intake up 10x in land-based bears.
21
Prey selection: ringed seals 8-12 months old preferred.
22
Protein catabolism during fast: 8% lean mass loss.
23
Goose eggs: 1-2 dozen consumed per bear in summer.
24
Energy from bowhead whale: one bear gains 1 month fat.
25
Vitamin A hypervitaminosis from liver, 9,000 IU/g.
26
Mummichog fish opportunistic, <1% diet calories.
Interpretation
Diet And Feeding Interpretation
In the diet and feeding category, polar bears rely heavily on seal fat, sometimes consuming the equivalent of 2 kg of fat daily and even up to 45 kg of blubber in one sitting, while ringed seals typically account for 60 to 90 percent of their biomass intake.
04 · Category
Habitat And Distribution25 stats
01
Polar bears primarily inhabit the Arctic Circle, spanning 19 subpopulations across Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Norway.
02
They rely on annual sea ice over the continental shelf for hunting, covering up to 300,000 km² in key areas.
03
The Chukchi Sea subpopulation roams an area of about 400,000 km².
04
Polar bears spend 50-70% of their time on sea ice platforms.
05
In summer, they may travel up to 1,000 km following receding ice edges.
06
The Svalbard archipelago hosts the Barents Sea subpopulation, estimated at 2,000-3,000 bears.
07
Hudson Bay's southern subpopulation uses land for 4-5 months annually due to ice melt.
08
Polar bears den in snow caves on land, preferring stable multi-year ice edges.
09
Their range covers approximately 23 million km² of Arctic marine habitat.
10
In the Beaufort Sea, bears travel average distances of 200-500 km per year.
11
Kane Basin subpopulation between Greenland and Canada spans 200,000 km².
12
Polar bears avoid open water deeper than 500 meters, preferring shallow shelves <200m.
13
M'Clintock Channel subpopulation in Nunavut covers 100,000 km² of sea ice.
14
They migrate seasonally, with some subpopulations moving 1,200 km north-south annually.
15
Gulf of Boothia has high bear densities at 2.6 bears/1,000 km².
16
Norwegian Svalbard bears average home range 135,000 km².
17
Davis Strait subpopulation spans 540,000 km² across Canada/Greenland.
18
Baffin Bay bears use fjords and fast ice year-round.
19
East Greenland subpopulation isolated, ~300 bears over 1 million km².
20
Sea ice concentration <50% uninhabitable for extended periods.
21
Foxe Basin subpopulation land-based 5 months, density 1.4/1000km².
22
Southern Hudson Bay: bears fast 130-140 days onshore.
23
Kara Sea subpopulation uses drifting ice, ~3,000 bears.
24
Laptev Sea low density, 0.1 bears/1000km² over 900,000 km².
25
They prefer ice floes 100-200m diameter for resting.
Interpretation
Habitat And Distribution Interpretation
Polar bears are spread across 19 Arctic subpopulations, but their habitat is tightly linked to sea ice conditions as they spend 50 to 70 percent of their time on platforms and may travel up to 1,000 km in summer when ice edges retreat.
05 · Category
Physical Characteristics30 stats
01
Adult male polar bears typically weigh between 350 to 700 kg (772 to 1,543 lbs), with some reaching up to 800 kg.
02
Adult female polar bears weigh 150 to 550 kg (331 to 1,212 lbs) on average.
03
Polar bears have black skin under their white fur, which helps absorb heat from the sun.
04
The fur of polar bears is not white but translucent, scattering light to appear white.
05
Polar bears have 42 teeth, including sharp canines for tearing meat and molars for crushing bone.
06
The average length of an adult male polar bear is 2.4 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) from nose to tail.
07
Newborn polar bear cubs weigh only about 0.45 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lbs) at birth.
08
Polar bears have a shoulder height of up to 1.6 meters (5.3 feet) when standing.
09
Their paws are up to 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter, acting as snowshoes for ice traversal.
10
Polar bears possess a layer of blubber up to 11 cm (4.3 inches) thick for insulation.
11
The claws of polar bears are 5 cm (2 inches) long, sharp, and curved for gripping ice.
12
Polar bear whiskers are highly sensitive, up to 30 cm long, aiding in navigation and hunting.
13
Their sense of smell can detect a seal under 1.6 km (1 mile) of ice.
14
Polar bears have small tails, only 7 to 12 cm (3 to 5 inches) long.
15
Females give birth to 1-3 cubs, averaging 2 per litter.
16
Polar bear cubs are born blind and hairless, developing fur within weeks.
17
Adult polar bears can swim continuously for up to 100 km (62 miles).
18
Their binocular vision allows precise depth perception for hunting.
19
Polar bears have a bite force of approximately 1,200 PSI.
20
The hump on their shoulders is pure muscle for powerful swimming and digging.
21
Polar bears swim average 150 km per journey, up 2x since 1990s.
22
Their heart rate drops to 10 bpm while diving, up to 2 minutes submergence.
23
Fur density: 200,000 hairs per square inch on body.
24
Females lose 20-25% body mass during 180-day denning fast.
25
Males grow continuously until 14 years, females to 8 years.
26
Eye color is dark brown, adapted for low light.
27
They have 4-inch non-retractable claws on each paw.
28
Lifespan in wild: 15-18 years, up to 30 in captivity.
29
Gestation effective 60 days, embryonic diapause 155-250 days.
30
Blood hemoglobin optimized for oxygen storage during dives.
Interpretation
Physical Characteristics Interpretation
For the physical characteristics of polar bears, the clearest pattern is the strong size difference with adult males typically weighing 350 to 700 kg compared with females averaging 150 to 550 kg, alongside adaptations like translucent fur and black skin that help them manage the Arctic cold.
Reference
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Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Polar Bear Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/polar-bear-statistics
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Ryan Townsend. "Polar Bear Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/polar-bear-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Polar Bear Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/polar-bear-statistics.