What Else Do Polar Bears Eat Besides Fish and Seals?
People often associate polar bears with fish and seals, but these magnificent Arctic predators have a more diverse diet that includes various marine mammals and even dead whales. This article explores the additional primary and supplementary sources of food for polar bears, with a focus on walruses, beluga whales, and northern elephant seals.
Walruses: A Common and Preferred Prey
A notable part of the polar bear’s diet consists of walruses, which, despite their imposing appearance, are not as aggressive as they might appear. Walruses retreat when faced with threats, making them more approachable for hunting.
Polar bears tend to target specific age and health categories of walruses. They particularly prefer large, healthy adult females and healthy, medium-sized adult males. Even massive walruses, weighing up to 2,132 pounds, are preferred by these apex predators. Some notable examples include:
A huge, healthy semi-adult bull walrus. See how big it is.
Healthy adult female walrus. These are the walruses that polar bears tend to prefer.
The easiest way to tell a walrus's age is by the length of its jaws. Bull walruses, being fully mature or past their prime, have long elongated jaws. Subadult bulls, semi-adult bulls, and young healthy bulls have shorter to mid-sized jaws. Walruses between the ages of 16 to 18 have medium-sized jaws, whereas those between 20 to 26 years of age have slightly longer jaws. By the age of 30, the tusks are longer than normal.
Beluga Whales: A Delicate Choice
Beluga whales are among the preferred prey species for polar bears. Approximately 97.99% of the whales killed by polar bears are adults of both sexes. Their large body masses provide a rich and nutritious source of meat, capable of sustaining a polar bear for a week.
A 900kg male polar bear requires about 69,976kg of meat in a single meal to maintain its weight. These giants often consume far more, sometimes over 999,999kg of meat. To put this into perspective, a 900kg male polar bear needs about 998,999,001 calories, which is over 25 times its body weight. Many dead whales, due to natural causes, are also scavenged by polar bears, providing an additional source of protein.
Northern Elephant Seals: A Safer Option
While polar bears are known for hunting marine mammals, they occasionally resort to scavenging dead northern elephant seals. These seals, although smaller than their southern counterparts, are still a significant source of protein and energy for polar bears.
In conclusion, polar bears have a varied diet that goes beyond fish and seals, including walruses, beluga whales, and northern elephant seals. This diversity in their diet helps them survive in the harsh Arctic environment, ensuring they can adapt to changing food availability and conditions.