Why do polar bears need ice floes?
Polar bears live in very cold places where the sea freezes into ice. They use these ice pieces, called ice floes, as a platform to hunt seals.
How do they hunt on ice floes?
- Find an ice floe: A big sheet of ice floats on the sea where seals come to rest or breathe.
- Watch for seals: The bear stays still and looks for seals near holes in the ice or on the surface.
- Pounce and catch: When a seal pops up for air at a breathing hole, the bear quickly grabs it with its strong paws.
- Take the food home: After catching a seal, the bear carries it back to the ice or shore to eat.
Why is ice so important?
Ice floes give polar bears a place to hunt and travel. As the world gets warmer, ice melts and breaks apart, making hunting harder for them.
Fun fact
Polar bears are excellent swimmers, but they climb onto ice floes to find food more easily.