Polar bears are sexually dimorphic in size. Males are larger than females are. Polar bears are covered in a thick, dense coat of hair. Each hair is a hollow tube that lacks pigment. When the sunlight bounces off the hair shaft, it appears white in color. Wild bears may look yellowish in the summer due to the oxidation of seal oil on their coat. Their fur does not repel water; polar bears can become hypothermic (their body temperature is too low) if they are immersed too long. They have 4 to 5 inches of blubber that insulates their body. They have a small, round head and a long neck. Their feet are flat, large, and oarlike. They have a membrane between their toes that is up to half the length of the toes. These are adaptations for swimming. Fur covers the soles of the paws, except for the foot pads. This provides traction and warmth against the ice. Black skin under the fur absorbs the warming ultraviolet rays of the sun. They have a very long neck and small ears. Their nose, foot pads, and the skin under their fur is black.

Listed as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).

• CZS Conservation - Species Survival Plan
• The Chicago Zoological Society administers the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) Endangered Species Fund, which supports conservation-oriented research. The grant program attracts dozens of innovative research projects each quarter, which have included polar bear conservation.
• Polar Bear International (PBI)

Help with the care of Hudson Polar Bear through our Share the Care program.