Feeding Habits of Polar Bears

It's no surprise that the polar bear stands at the top of the arctic food chain. In addition to being the world's largest land carnivore, this species of bear is especially well-adapted to maneuver the ice floes and chilly waters of its natural habitat in search of prey. With an average dietary requirement of 4.5 pounds of fat per day, the polar bear wreaks havoc on the blubbery inhabitants of the Arctic Circle.

Diet

• A hearty meal

  Polar bears feed primarily on the ringed seal and the bearded seal, but in some locations they also eat harp and hooded seals. Each of these seals contain high levels of fatty tissue, or blubber, which helps the polar bear maintain the high-fat, low-protein diet it needs. Polar bears also have been known to kill and eat much larger animals, such as walruses, belugas, narwhals and bowhead whales. If they are isolated on land for long periods of time, polar bears will eat plants, berries and even human refuse.

Hunting

• On the prowl

  Polar bears are excellent hunters on land and sea. White fur provides a perfect arctic camouflage, and their sense of smell is keen, allowing them to locate their prey from afar. When hunting for seals on land, the polar bear waits near a breathing hole in the ice, and bites the seal's head as soon as it emerges. In an underwater attack, the polar bear uses its powerful, partially webbed paws to swim beneath the ice toward an exit hole and then quickly surfaces to devour any nearby seals.

Other Feeding Habits

• Looking for leftovers

  Occasionally polar bears will scavenge. They have been observed feeding upon whale and walrus carcasses that have washed ashore, and in some cases they have been been spotted rummaging through the garbage dumps of nearby humans. Other items that polar bears have been known to eat include waterfowl, eggs, short-legged reindeer, small rodents and kelp. If it's not hungry, a polar bear will sometimes kill a seal without eating it and leave the carcass for other scavengers.

Environmental Concerns

• Due to the ecological effects of global warming on the Arctic, the living environment of polar bears is gradually changing. As the extent of sea ice has declined over the past decade, reports show that the number of polar bears living on land has increased. If this trend continues, the feeding habits of the polar bear will be forced to change, resulting in a diet that may not contain the necessary amount of fat, protein and other vital nutrients.