Polar Bears Written and Illustrated By: Clarissa Harker 2 nd Grade 2012

Polar Bears Written and Illustrated By: Clarissa Harker 2 nd Grade 2012 Thompson Publishing Company, Inc. Copyright 2012

Dedicated to : My Papa, My Maga, My Aunt Jessie, My Mother, My Father, and My Cousins: Patience & Deven

Table of Contents 1 Polar Bear Facts 2 -4 Polar Bear Diet 5 Polar Bears Habitat 6 Polar Bears Life Cycle 7 –8 Polar Bear Diagram 9 Glossary 10 References 11 Polar Bear Photos 12

Polar Bear Facts Polar bears are also known as sea bears. Polar bears are the largest predators on land and they are the largest bear. Adult male polar bears weigh between 720 – 1,700 lbs. and can grow up to 10 feet or the height of a one story building. 2

Polar Bear Facts (continued) Adult female polar bears weigh between 500 and 600 lbs. Polar bears have fur and skin that will let them absorb sunlight to keep warm. They have lots of blubber or fat that keeps them warm in the cold weather. 3

Polar Bear Facts (continued) Polar bears are beautiful bears and can be dangerous. They can swim up to 100 miles at a time. Polar bears swim by using their large front paws to move in the water and their back legs to guide them. Polar bears have paw pads with rough surfaces to keep them from slipping on the ice. 4

Polar Bears Diet Polar bears eat mainly seals. They will wait quietly at a seal’s breathing hole in the ice for a seal to appear. They usually bite the seal on the head. The polar bear uses it’s jagged teeth and big claws to catch the seal. Polar bears will eat leftover garbage. 5

Polar Bears Habitat Polar bears live on the shores and on the sea ice in the Arctic. Male polar bears will travel hundreds of miles from the shore in the winter to look for seals. 6

Polar Bear Life Cycle In the fall, the pregnant bears will make a den in the earth or on snowbanks and stay for the winter. Female polar bears have one to three cubs. 7

Polar Bear Life Cycle (continued) The mother bear will take care of the cubs for two and one half years. She protects the cubs and teaches them how to hunt for food. 8

Polar Bear Diagram 9

Glossary 10 Arctic – of or relating to the north pole or the region near it blubber – the fat of large sea mammals cubs – a young individual of some animals as a fox, bear, or a lion jagged – sharply notched predators – preying upon other animals pregnant - containing unborn young

References 11 Websites eature images.com Websites Books The Bear, Sabrina Crewe Bears, Lynn Stone A Pair of Polar Bears, Joanne Ryder

Bear Photos 12