We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Aquatic

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do Polar Bears Stay Warm?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 79,760
Share

Polar bears are found in very cold parts of the world where temperatures can drop as low as -20° Fahrenheit (-29° Celsius). Without proper protection, this weather can be deadly, so polar bears stay warm by utilizing their thick fur and fat, or blubber. Polar bears have evolved along with other Arctic animals to take advantage of minimal warmth, and can sometimes actually become too warm because their bodies are so efficient at trapping heat.

A polar bear's fur is the first step in keeping warm. Polar bears actually have two types of fur: long oily guard hairs and short insulating hairs. Polar bears stay warm by combining the properties of these two hairs. The guard hairs are actually hollow, and look like very small tubes of glass. The hollow guard hairs trap warmth and bring it close to the skin while also providing an oily outer layer that prevents the polar bear from getting wet. The insulating hairs trap heat close to the skin, much like insulating underwear on humans.

Blubber also helps polar bears stay warm, by providing an insulating fat pad on certain parts of the body. While polar bears do not use blubber as efficiently as some Arctic animals, it certainly adds a layer of protection and can also be used for energy when food sources are minimal. Blubber is distributed unevenly across the bear's body, and ranges from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in thickness. Blubber also combines with the air trapping guard hairs to keep polar bears afloat in the water.

Scientists have also seen polar bears stay warm by using the snow. Snow crystals trap small amounts of air, and polar bears will burrow in the snow to create an insulating blanket which, while cold, is still warmer than the outside world. This is sometimes combined with a biological process called winter sleep, which slows down metabolic processes. Winter sleep is not quite hibernation, as the bears can be woken, but it does create lower energy demands on the body that will keep the bears warmer.

Using this variety of physical and physiological adaptations, polar bears stay warm during even the coldest winters. In the summer, polar bears shed part of their winter coat and blubber, but they may overheat in extremely warm weather. Polar bears stay cool in the heat by spreading out to increase their surface area and going for dips in the Arctic waters, which are still chilly, even in the summer.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a All Things Nature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon996068 — On Jul 05, 2016

How do polar bears act when they are in a really hot environment?

By anon322467 — On Feb 27, 2013

Albino polar bears look like black bears, but they aren't, they're black polar bears!

By anon241840 — On Jan 20, 2012

No, polar bears are brown! They turn yellow during the cold season, and then molt when summer comes.

By anon60687 — On Jan 15, 2010

Contrary to what Al Gore says, polar bears are also great swimmers. It is not uncommon for a polar bear to swim as much as 100 miles while hunting.

While we're on the subject, the polar ice caps are not melting! That is junk science that is being put forth by Al Gore in order to justify those bogus carbon taxes. Polar bears are not dying off in large numbers, or drowning due to the melting ice caps either.

Nasa photos reveal that the polar ice caps shift as part of a natural cycle. The ice caps expand and contract in this dynamic cycle. Polar bears numbers have actually increased dramatically within the last three decades.

By anon60532 — On Jan 14, 2010

i find it disgustingly depressing that people don't believe in evolution and that they think atheists created this massive hoax. i am religious but I'm not an idiot. evolution is a fact and you cannot deny it.

i think people who regret the knowledge that science has led to are just fearful of their god and ignorant that not everything you read is real. keep on living in your fairy tale world.

By NeverTheLess — On Jan 13, 2010

While on the subject of polar bears, I told you not to eat that, didn't I?

Polar bear liver is toxic. Just research polar bear liver to see the facts.

By anon60352 — On Jan 13, 2010

Ever think, maybe God just made them this way as he knew they going to live in very cold weather?

By anon60334 — On Jan 13, 2010

Polar bears did not "evolve" as you stated. Indeed, "evolution" is a hoax perpetuated by atheists who stupidly reject the existence of God who created all life forms, created the Big Bang, and created all time, space and gravity laws.

By anon25792 — On Feb 03, 2009

How come some polar bears are brown and some are white?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/how-do-polar-bears-stay-warm.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.