Polar bear ... The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can interbreed. The polar bear is the largest …

Jan 7, 2026 · Polar bear, great white northern bear found throughout the Arctic region. The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, a title it shares with a subspecies of brown bear …

Polar bears roam the Arctic ice sheets and swim in that region's coastal waters. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed.

Polar bears are key to Arctic ecosystems. Discover WWF’s efforts to combat sea ice loss and safeguard polar bear populations.

From cubs and habitat to status and threats, learn about all things polar bears from the leading polar bear nonprofit.

Jan 29, 2026 · After decades monitoring polar bears in Norway's far north, researchers say the animals have proven incredibly adaptable, but there are no guarantees for the future.

However, they are still bears. The polar bear evolved one to three million years ago from the brown bear, which still ekes out a marginal life along the northern shore of the Arctic oceans.

Feb 13, 2025 · Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are closely related to brown bears but have adapted to life in the snow and ice and live in the coldest environments in the nation.

Jan 29, 2026 · This polar bear population is thriving despite some of the most drastic sea ice loss in the Arctic The bears began feeding on alternative food sources, researchers found.

Feb 9, 2006 · Genetic research has confirmed that polar bears evolved from brown bears (U. arctos) roughly 500 thousand years ago. Polar bears and brown bears overlap in regions of northern …