Polar Bears

Polar bears are the largest bear in the world. They spend much of their time swimming in icy water (they use their big paws as paddles), and walking across the snow and ice to look for food. They eat seals, birds, fish, and plants. Baby polar bears are called cubs. They are born 2 or 3 at a time in dens beneath the snow. Babies stay in the dens for three months surviving on their mother's milk. When they leave the den, they stay with their mother for about two years while she teaches them how to hunt for themselves. Special fact: The pads and fur on the bottoms of their paws keep them from getting cold on the ice.