4. ADAPTATIONS

Polar bears are able to swim in the icy Arctic Ocean without freezing. They have thick oily fur coats and a layer of fat (blubber) under their skin. When bears come out of the water they shake the water off their coats.
The bear's large feet are like snowshoes. The hair on the soles of its feet help the bear walk on the slippery ice and snow. The bear walks with toes pointing inward to avoid slipping.
Polar bears are good swimmers. They have large front paws with partially webbed toes. They paddle with their front legs and use their hind legs as rudders.
The polar bear has a very good sense of smell and can sniff dead animals from far away and can find seals in dens beneath the snow. Their claws help them to catch seals. The polar bear's huge teeth are for tearing the prey apart.