The largest carnivore on land, huge Polar Bear is well suited for life on the icy tundra. Strong and active, She has better eyesight than most Bears. The soles of her feet are covered with fur to give Her stability on the slippery ice. Polar Bear’s thick white coat traps warm insulating air, and also acts as a solar collector to keep Her warm. In addition, Polar Bear can stand high on her hind legs to scan the Arctic landscape.
Called “Ursus maritimus”, Polar Bear swims the seas like a seal. A fast swimmer, She uses her forepaws as flippers. Swimming from ice floe to ice floe, Polar Bear roams the frozen seas of the Arctic Nations, hunting from Russia to Greenland.
Feeding mainly on Seals, Polar Bear uses guile to hunt Them. She will pretend to be an ice chunk that just happens to drift by Bearded Seal. Not suspecting anything, Bearded Seal will surface next to the “ice chunk”. Springing into action, Polar Bear lunges and kills Him in a single, powerful bite.
Polar Bear lives in a two-dimension world for sight in the Arctic and one-dimensional one during the long dark winters. For these reasons, She relies greatly on her sense of smell. Because the air is always moving, Polar Bear can smell the molecules of anything distances away.
Among the Inuit and Inupat, Polar Bear is a teacher. Since She showed them how to survive, they call Her “Person inside a bear hide”. With great reverence, they hunt Her, and also respectfully use her corpse.
Face to face with Polar Bear, a person feels her raw, wild power. Living in civilized places, most people rarely experience such power in its fullness. An encounter with Polar Bear is to come face to face with the primeval sense of life. Respect that power, and learn how to survive in your own Arctic wilderness.
Polar Bear’s Teachings Also Include:
“We are alone standing here. The only movement is the wind, our constant companion. And it comes, the sudden ghost-like appearance of the white bear moving silently, steadily across the gravel and ice-covered landscape.” Copyright: “Bears of the World”, Terry Domico.
“Polar Bear medicine wisdom is about adapting and surviving in a hostile environment. Invoke Polar Bear medicine to find and keep the warmth alive in your heart.” Copyright: “Shamanic Wisdom II”, Dolphin and Swimming Wolf.
“Polar Bear Dreaming ignites the desire to partake in a spiritual quest that will see our life regain its integrity, wholesomeness, and clarity.” Copyright: “Animal Messengers”, Scott Alexander King.
Purchase books, DVDs, and toys of polar bears from Amazon.com
Hey Kids and Parents! Here are more sites on Polar Bears!
Conservation Note: The hunting of Polar Bear is regulated in the United States and Canada.
Va. Carper
March 6, 2008