1. Animal of the Day

2. Brief Description: Ursus maritimus is Latin for "sea bear". The polar bear is the only bear considered to be a marine mammal. It is only partially aquatic though, and the least aquatic of all marine mammals. They are the largest land carnivore – reaching sizes of 12 feet long and over 2000 pounds. They have black skin and thick white fur that is oily and repels water.

3. Polar bears live through the circumpolar Arctic. They inhabit arctic sea ice, water, islands, and continental coastlines.

4. They feed on ringed and bearded seals. Depending upon their location, they also eat harp and hooded seals and scavenge on carcasses of beluga whales, walruses, narwhals, and bowhead whales. On occasion, polar bears kill beluga whales and young walruses. When other food is unavailable, polar bears will eat just about anything.

6. Polar bears have no natural predators – besides other polar bears. They are under considerable pressure to continually adapt their lifestyles due to the changing climate on earth. With the decline of polar ice, some are turning to a more land-based lifestyle.