In this episode of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, the polar bears of Wrangel Island endure months of starvation when the pack ice retreats in summer, and an orphaned cub's struggle for survival becomes the struggle of an entire population.

Ask Peter Gros — special adviser to Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and co-host of the original series — your questions about polar bears now. He'll answer them shortly after Polar Bear Alcatraz, which premieres Sunday, March 26, at 7 p.m. EST. Get a reminder.

To post your question, please click "post reply."

I have heard that polar Bears actually have black fur but the cold climate causes them to have hollow colored hair.Is that true?
Please let me know.

I have several questions:

How thick is a polar bears fur (how many hairs per square inch)?

Are polar bears born with black skin or do they develop it as they grow older?

What should we do to ensure the survival of polar bears?

How far can a polar bear travel in a day?

Prehistorically did polar bears live in warm climates, then as they migrated North adapt to the cold or have they always lived in the polar regions?

Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_kelly,

Hey Peter,

I was wondering what physical adaptations enable the polar Bear to hunt prey as large as walruses and Beluga whales.

It's nice to be with you again to discuss one of the world's largest carnivores and how they survive in the most extreme climate.

Peter Gros

Re: "I have heard that polar Bears actually have black fur but the cold climate causes them to have hollow colored hair.Is that true?
Please let me know." iloveanimals321

Yes, it is true. When they're first born, they're almost completely light-colored, and then gradually as the months go by, you first start to see dark hair on the footpads (at about 1 month). The ears start becoming less pink, and eventually the hair around the top of the nose.

The hollow hair not only helps them with their buoyancy as they swim, but helps transmit heat to the inner dark skin to keep the bears warm while the outside of the thick hair is the same temperature as the outside climate.

Peter Gros

Re: "How thick is a polar bears fur (how many hairs per square inch)?" africanlioness

Polar bears have around one million hairs per square inch, similar to a sea otter. Humans have about 20,000 per square inch on their heads. The fur is so important to the polar bear's survival, not just as insulation but also as perfect camouflage as it stalks its prey on the ice flows. Stiff hair grows on the soles of its paws that not only insulate but provide excellent traction on the ice.

Peter Gros

Dear Peter,

How slow/fast is the metabolism of a polar bear? It must be pretty slow if they only manage to catch their prey less than 2% of the time.

Re: "Are polar bears born with black skin or do they develop it as they grow older?" africanlioness

Their skin gets darker as they grow, originating at the base of the hair shaft. Their fur appears white rather than transparent for the same reason as clouds; water foam causes reflection and dispersion of visible light. The fur absorbs ultraviolet light. The coat can insulate the bear to the point where they over-heat at temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit; this is why you see polar bears in zoos with chilled cooling pools and refridgerated enclosures.

Peter Gros

Hi Peter,

My life long dream is to meet a polar bear. Yes, everyone has told i am crazy, but i am madly in love with polar bears, they are all over my room! I was wondering if you knew of any programs that could get me involved with polar bears.

Thanks,
Taylor

How long does a polar bear live in the wild and how long do they live in captivity?

How long does a cub stay with it's mother?

Re: "How slow/fast is the metabolism of a polar bear? It must be pretty slow if they only manage to catch their prey less than 2% of the time." lionesspride

It appears that they can alter their metabolism during periods of food depravation at any time of year. Unlike other bears, they can shift as needed into a hibernation-like metabolic pattern when confronted with periods of food shortage. This ability makes polar bears the most advanced of all mammals when it comes to dealing with food and water depravation (Nelson, 1987).

It is true that they often miss catching their prey. On the other hand, catching an adult ring seal or a walrus means they can gorge themselves with hundreds of pounds of fat and go long periods of time without eating again.

Peter Gros

how far south can a polar bear come and still survive?

Re: "My life long dream is to meet a polar bear. Yes, everyone has told i am crazy, but i am madly in love with polar bears, they are all over my room! I was wondering if you knew of any programs that could get me involved with polar bears." Thanks, Taylor

For years I've felt the same way that you do about this magnificent animal. The best place for controlled polar bear viewing is Hudson Bay at the small town of Churchill. They are accustomed to taking eco-tourists on the tundra to view polar bears who have come out of their dens with their cubs and are waiting for the pack ice to meet the shore ice so they can move out and hunt ring seals. These bears are accustomed to tundra buggies and are very curious. They walk within 10 feet of the visiting polar bear lovers. There's a group called Natural Habitat Tours, based in Boulder, Colorado, who whould be happy to give you further information about polar bear viewing with them.

Peter Gros

Dear Sir,
I am curious as to the motivations and out-come of the research of the polar bears on the island. Aside from stating the mildly obvious fact that the bears are starving and cannibalising one another, what exactly was done with the research in regards to the well-fare of the bears? What over-all effect do you believe broadcasting the slow, suffering of a young bear cub had in showcasing your research? Parallels to the over-all suffering of the entirety of the bears on the island could be made, however, wasn’t that shown enough through other footage of the bodies of bears on the island and in better taste?

will a mother polar bear ever adopt a cub that has been either abandoned or orphaned by another mother

Re: "How long does a polar bear live in the wild and how long do they live in captivity? How long does a cub stay with it's mother?" sarahkobe

Female polar bears in the wild live to their mid-20s and early 30s. Males can live to their late 20s. In captivity, polar bears live to an average of 30-35 years.

Polar bears usually breed in April and May. Females generally keep their cubs for 2-1/2 years, which means they're available for breeding once every 3 years. The young are born in snow dens with their eyes closed, and weigh around 1-1/2 pounds at birth. Their body hair is so fine that at first glance they look like they're hairless. Cubs are nursed by their mothers until late March or early April, until they weigh around 25 pounds. They're then large enough to accompany their mother onto the sea ice. About two-thirds of the litters are twins, while single cub litters are the next most common. Triplets, while infrequent, are not rare, occurring in frequencies up to 12 percent in some populations.

Peter Gros

Peter, Is there ever a chance where an orphaned cub will be adopted by another female?

Thanks for answering my question. I also have another question, how many polar bears live on that island?

Hi; It was heartbreaking to watch the Polar Bear situation. Do you know if the little Bear made it or not. I cried through the whole show. Thank you P.Coffelt