Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/23/2009 - 09:35
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Polar Bear Response to Sea Ice Loss

Do polar bears hibernate or sleep for an extended period of time like other bears?

                         Patrick Prentiss  
                             Period 2
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 15:15

Cristina Galvan

Hi Patrick,Polar bears do not go through the traditional type of hibernation -
where they lower their body temperature and metobolic processes for an
extended time. However, it is believed the polar bears do something
called a "walking hibernation." The move around and search for food,
but lower some of their metabolic processes. This is actually one of
things that we will be studying during this project!
Look for an upcoming Polar Bear 101 journal entry.