Polar bears are smart and sneaky hunters. They approach prey strategically. They have several hunting methods, as explained by Dr. Andrew Derocher in his new book, Polar Bears, A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior.May 9, 2012
Why is it hard for polar bears to hunt their prey?
Polar bears that are forced to live on land due to melting ice face lean times in most of the Arctic. Food found on land, such as berries and eggs, lack the high fat content and calories of the bears' preferred prey. Also, catching a seal in open water is far more difficult than catching on the ice.
Do hunters kill polar bears?
For the last several decades, hunting has been the greatest known cause of polar bear mortality. Today, polar bears are hunted by native arctic populations primarily for food, clothing, handicrafts, and sale of skins.
What percent of the time do polar bears catch their prey?
Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food. A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive.
What sense do polar bears use to detect prey?
sense of smell
What is the prey of a polar bear?
Arctic fox
Why do polar bears hunt on ice?
Polar bears are strong swimmers, but not fast enough to catch their main source of food—the ringed and bearded seal. Therefore, sea ice is critical for polar bears to use as a platform to hunt the seals. Other times, seals bask on top of the ice, allowing the polar bear an opportunity to stalk and kill it.
What do polar bears use to hunt?
Still hunting is the most common method of hunting year-round. The polar bear remains motionless beside a breathing hole or lead edge waiting for a seal to surface. When a seal surfaces, the polar bear bites onto the head or upper body, then flips the entire seal onto the ice.
How do grizzly bears hunt?
How does the bear hunt? The bear kills its prey by biting it in the neck or back. It can also kill the prey animal with a strike of its forepaw, which is often enough to break the animal's spine. Often the bear will also bite its prey in the snout, which leaves deep canine marks that are clearly visible.
How do bears catch deer?
Bears hunt deer by charging at them and grabbing them by their back and neck. Bears can also incapacitate their prey using their powerful paws to strike. One blow can break a deer's spine. Bears are also known to eat deer carcasses that they came across.
Do bears stalk their prey?
3 ) Keep food and garbage away from bears. These bears silently stalk their prey, sometimes for hours, before quickly rushing to attack. 6 ) A black bear that is stalking you may be deterred by aggressive actions, such as shouting, spraying it with bear spray or hitting it with rocks, sticks or even fists.