See a Polar Bear Break Through Thick Ice And Snag a Seal Swimming Below

In this stunning clip filmed in the Arctic, we see a male polar bear looking for a meal. But his prey is under the thick ice. Using his amazing sense of smell, he can detect seals under several feet of snow. This guy knows that there is a potential meal just below him but how can he get at it?

Using his considerable weight, he punches a hole in the ice taking the seal completely by surprise. It was not expecting to be attacked from above! He then runs off with his prize in his mouth. He will eat the fat of the seal first – this is more valuable to him than the meat. Some polar bears even leave the meat behind. Polar bears need a fat-rich diet to build up their fat-insulating layer. This allows them to survive in such harsh environments.

Watch the Incredible Clip Below

Where Do Polar Bears Normally Live?

Polar bears live throughout the Arctic region that surrounds the North Pole. They live on ice packs and the landfast ice of the surrounding coastal areas. Some have been spotted as far south as the southern tips of Greenland and Iceland. Six distinct populations of polar bears are recognized in different geographical areas. These include the northern Alaskan polar bears, the central Siberian polar bears, and Greenland polar bears.

Because polar bears live on floating ice, they are considered to be marine mammals. Their scientific name, Ursus maritimus, means ‘maritime bear’. You’re most likely to find these bears where the hunting grounds are best. So, they are often seen at ice edges and pressure ridges where fractures and refreezing occur. They travel over large distances to find food. During the summer, you may find them on islands or coastlines with land-fast ice.

What Do Polar Bears Normally Eat?

Polar bears are carnivores and need to hunt other animals to stay alive. They can be seen eating some vegetation in the summer, but they are not able to gain much nutrition from it. As we can see in this clip, they are experts at hunting seals. Their primary prey are ringed seals but they also hunt bearded seals, harp seals, and hooded seals. You may also see a polar bear tackling a walrus!

These guys are quite happy to snap up sea birds and their eggs as well as small mammals. Polar bears can also be found scavenging on carrion of seals, walruses, or whales. The most important part of these prey is the blubber which provides high calorific value for the bears.