The amazing paws and claws of the polar bear

The polar bear has adapted incredibly well to survive in its harsh environment. There are several ways it has been able to do this, and the fact that its legs are so large and dexterous is just an adaptation. When visiting polar bear habitat on specialized wildlife tours, it is interesting to note how much where an animal lives can affect its physical evolution.

legs for thought

Polar bears have extremely large feet, which can grow up to 12 inches wide. This is so its colossal weight can be more evenly distributed over deep snow and thin ice. Their feet are also very furry, which helps keep them warm. The pads on their feet are rough to the touch, allowing for better traction on the ice that makes up most of the surface of the polar bear’s frozen habitat.

Their claws are short, sharp, thick, and curved, making it easy for them to grip the ice or latch onto their often slippery prey. You couldn’t be more different from human feet, but interestingly, their way of walking is very similar to ours. Their skeletal anatomy is also not too different from that of bears, and in fact excavated human bones have often been confused with those of bears.

Because polar bears are predatory animals, you would expect them to walk on their toes instead of being so flat-footed. But their large plantigrade feet are perfect for supporting their weight, climbing, and helping them stay upright to search for prey, catch a scent on the wind, and fight. However, big, flat feet don’t mean they’re slow. In short bursts they can run up to 30 miles per hour, much faster than the average human. They roam widely within their territory, sometimes covering up to 20 miles of bear habitat per day, for several days at a time. Walking up to 700 miles a year, their ranges are huge and can stretch over 135,000 square miles.

The large legs have other advantages as well, and they make excellent fins in the water. Polar bear habitat not only consists of ice fields, but also includes many miles of ocean. They are excellent swimmers and spend a lot of time in the water. Its front legs are used for propulsion and the hind legs for steering.

Polar bears have evolved incredibly efficiently to make their challenging life in the Arctic as easy as possible. This demanding environment has meant that their fur, body, paws and claws have uniquely developed over time to ensure their survival in this harsh corner of the planet.