Ice Bear

Polar bears, the world's largest bear and the Arctic's top predator, symbolize the strength and endurance of the region. Ursus maritimus, the polar bear's Latin name, means "sea bear." It's an appropriate name for this majestic species, which lives largely in, around, or on the ocean - primarily on the sea ice. There are two subpopulations of polar bears in Alaska, United States.

Over 50% of polar bears' time is spent hunting for food. It is possible that a polar bear catches only one or two seals out of ten that it hunts, depending on the time of year and other factors.

Traveling, hunting, resting, mating, and, in some areas, maternal dens are all dependent on sea ice for polar bears. As a result of climate change, which is threatening polar bear habitat throughout the Arctic, the species was listed as threatened in May 2008 under the Endangered Species Act.